When is it? How can you watch it? What are the possible line-ups? All you need to know about the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg between Paris and Barcelona.
What do you need to know?
Paris and Barcelona face off in the Champions League quarter-finals for the fourth time with the French side’s coach Luis Enrique aiming to eliminate the club he guided to their most recent triumph in the competition in 2015. The Spanish outfit won the last two meetings and also famously completed ‘La Remontada’ when overturning a 4-0 first-leg reverse in the 2016/17 round of 16.
Paris beat Barcelona in the 1994/95 last eight and can also point to success in the clubs’ most recent knockout tie, 5-2 on aggregate in the 2020/21 round of 16. Their chief protagonist in that success was Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg at the Camp Nou, and the 25-year-old strides into this contest in relentless goalscoring form too.
Predicted line-ups
Paris: Donnarumma; Zaïre-Emery, Marquinhos, Lucas Hernández, Mendes; Vitinha, Ugarte, Fabián Ruiz; Dembélé, Mbappé, Barcola
Suspended: Hakimi
Misses next match if booked: Lucas Hernández, Škriniar, Ugarte, Dembélé
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, João Cancelo; De Jong, Christensen, Gündoğan; Lamine, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Suspended: None
Misses next match if booked: Christensen, De Jong, Ferran Torres, João Félix, Ronald Araújo, Sergi Roberto, Lamine
Form guide
Paris
Form (all competitions, most recent first): DWWWWD
Most recent result: Paris 1-1 Clermont Foot, 06/04, French Ligue 1
Barcelona
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WWWWDW
Most recent result: Barcelona 1-0 Las Palmas, 30/03, Spanish La Liga
Who will win the first leg? 🤔
Paris
Barcelona
Draw
Expert predictions
Alex Clementson, Paris reporter
After two dominant displays to see off Real Sociedad in the last 16 – performances which typified the burgeoning maturity and tactical ingenuity of Luis Enrique’s side – Paris can approach the quarter-finals with a semblance of serenity and quiet confidence. With Kylian Mbappé in red-hot form in the competition, and former Barcelona star Ousmane Dembélé proving the perfect foil, the omens look promising for the Parisians. Hakimi’s suspension could disrupt the dynamic, but expect the hosts to make use of home advantage.
Graham Hunter, Barcelona reporter
Good memories, bad memories. Barça won’t be harking back to their historic 6-1 win against PSG in 2017 – equally, they won’t want reminding of losing that first leg 4-0 in Paris, nor of Mbappé’s four goals against the Blaugrana in 2021. Plus-points for Xavi: a distinct upswing in form (undefeated in 11), defensive stability (no goals conceded in last five Liga matches) and a debilitating injury list gradually reducing. Andreas Christensen should be fit, Frenkie de Jong is close and there’s the slight possibility of Pedri making the second leg.
All Paris’ goals in 2023/24 Champions League
What the coaches say
Luis Enrique, Paris coach: “I think the group is in a good state of mind. This is a good period for us. We don’t feel any pressure, more ambition. We are very excited about qualifying for the next round. I know [Barcelona] and the players very well, but I don’t know if that constitutes an advantage. On an emotional level, it’s a great experience, but I feel ready. It’s a job: you have to be professional. I like Barça but I think of my team above all.”
Xavi Hernández, Barcelona coach: “I think the word for tomorrow, after being out of the quarter-finals for four years, is excitement. We can dream and we are very motivated. We are enjoying our best form of the season and we will face a team prepared to win the Champions League with one of the better coaches in Luis Enrique. I have all the respect in the world for them.”
Where is the 2024 Champions League final?
The best of the best will be crowned on the ultimate stage when the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League season concludes at London’s prestigious Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 June.