Targeting To Get Rid Of Barcelona In The Champions League, This Is What PSG Is Doing

The first match of the Champions League quarter-finals in Barcelona won 3-2 over Paris Saint-Germain. (X/@PSG_Inside)

JAKARTA - Paris Saint-Germain must win and pursue a goal deficit to get rid of Barcelona in the second duel of the Champions League quarter-finals. The problem is, PSG must beat Barca who played at home at the Olimpic Lluis Companys Stadium, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in the morning WIB.

PSG lost 3-2 in their first game at home. Despite disappointing results, coach Luis Enrique believes PSG is capable of turning things around.

At least a 1-0 victory can force extra time and then proceed on penalties if the score doesn't change.

Changes in away goals at least helped PSG to catch the goal deficit. This makes Barca's three goals at home PSG not completely as if PSG won one goal.

With a 3-3 aggregate, Barca did not automatically go to the semifinals because they scored more away goals.

However, Barca remains a little over the wind. Because Xavi Hernandez's team only needed a draw to qualify for the semifinals.

"We are very confident that we will be able to score goals. In the first match there was a tight battle from both teams. The result certainly did not match our expectations. With a score of 3-2, we had to win this second match," said Enrique.

Enrique, who brought Barca to treble in 2015, is optimistic that his team will be able to meet the target. He also prepared a strategy to play aggressively with high pressure.

"We will pressure them from the first minute even though they appear with their own games. When we have the ball, we try to create as many chances as possible," said the former coach of the Spanish national team.

"The day after the first match became a difficult time for us. But we are still going through the second match against the same opponent. So we know what to do. We are ready to face it," he said again.

In that match, right-back Achraf Hakimi will return to play. Hakimi missed the first match because of the ban on playing. Now, he will start with Goncalo Ramos and Warren Zare-Emery.

Ramos received support from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. The match in Paris taught Mbappe who did not move against the young Barca defender Pau Cubarsi. In this match, Cubarsi was again the first choice in the heart of defense.

Meanwhile, Xavi was able to field the best squad even though he remained without Gavi and Alejandro Balde who were seriously injured.

But Joao Cancelo, Inigo Martinez and flagship striker Robert Lewandowski will appear. The three of them were absent due to the ban on playing when Barca won 1-0 against Cadiz.

Barca are still seeded to qualify, but PSG cannot be underestimated. Moreover, the French Ligue 1 team is not a dark horse but is one of the seeds in the Champions League.