Barcelona are all set to play host to Paris Saint-Germain at home in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 encounter. The Catalan giants have never been eliminated by this French opposition in the competition’s history, and Ronald Koeman would be hoping to keep this record intact.
The Cules have been hit massively on the injury front with first-team starters, Gerard Pique, Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho; all ruled out due to injury. Additionally, Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo and Martin Braithwaite are also being treated at the sickbay.
Barcelona made several changes to the team that took to the field against Deportivo Alaves and rest was offered to players like Jordi Alba, Pedri and Dembele. These three will be fresh to take on PSG on Tuesday night in Barcelona. Here’s how Barca could line-up against the Parisians.
Barcelona Predicted Line-Up Against Paris Saint-Germain
Defence
Marc Andre Ter Stegen will take command between the sticks for Barcelona on Tuesday evening. The German goalie has failed to hold on to clean-sheets in recent matches and will be gunning for ones against the opposition from Ligue 1. Sergino Dest will occupy the right-back spot ahead of Mingueza. Dest made an appearance off the substitutes bench on the weekend and seemed to be in the right physical shape.
Barcelona’s centre back pairing for the evening will be Clement Lenglet and Oscar Mingueza. Samuel Umtiti has proven troublesome in recent matches and will not be trusted with a fixture of such magnitude. Jordi Alba will return to the starting eleven and replace Junior Firpo at the left-back spot.
Midfield
Sergio Busquets will start in midfield for this crunch fixture. The Spaniard is a seasoned campaigner and has played in several high-pressure games like these before. Busquets’ presence in midfield will be important to all the Camp Nou faithful. Pedri will start on the left of Busquets. The youngster has grown in confidence this season and has displayed his brilliant chemistry with Lionel Messi as well.
Pedri will want to stick to the basics in possibly one of his career’s biggest games so far. Frenkie will return to familiar territory in midfield after being deployed at the centre back position against Alaves. Miralem Pjanic and Riqui Puig will make up the numbers on the bench for Barcelona.
Attack
Ousmane Dembele will start on the right-wing position. The French attacker will want to unleash his pace on the flanks and drive Barcelona a step closer to a quarter-final berth. Lionel Messi will be a part of the starting line-up without a doubt. Several pundits and experts have ruled out Barcelona and the left-footed magician will be more than pleased to prove his critics wrong once again. Antoine Griezmann will occupy the last position up for grabs. The former Atletico Madrid attacker has emerged as a reliable source of goals and assists since the turn of the year, and a RO16 clash against PSG will be the perfect opportunity for Griezmann to make a name for himself at the Catalan capital.
Barcelona Predicted Line-Up Against Paris Saint-Germain
