BARCELONA VS PSG: All you need to know ahead of heavyweight clash between Spanish and French giants
The matchup between both powerhouses promises high drama and intense competition between two of Europe’s top-flight clubs. Football fans all over the globe eagerly await this showdown and it’s never a boring game with these two.
The two teams stand alone as the only clubs across Europe to have both men and female teams surviving in the 2023/24 Champions League, with the Barcelona women, team up against Chelsea in the UCL Semi-finals and PSG women advancing to face their domestic rivals Lyon.
The final men's UEFA Champions League roadmap to Wembley was drafted on Friday, March 15, 2024, at the UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. All eight surviving teams were exposed to their opponents and routed to the finals. Both teams qualified for the Knockout stages of the UCL equal in points with their qualifying partners. Barcelona came out top of Group H while PSG suffered a second-place entry in Group F due to a lower goal difference. They won just two games, drawing twice and losing two games.
The Catalonians saw off Napoli at the Camp Nou in the Round of 16 with a 4-2 victory on aggregate. Paris Saint Germain on the other hand, beat Spanish side Real Sociedad both home and away (4-1 on aggregate) to advance to the quarter-finals. Only one team from the tie would advance to face Athletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the Semi-Finals. The winner of this tie would have the golden opportunity to make it to the finals, as they will avoid the past winners Manchester City and Real Madrid in the build-up.
2023/24 UCL Final Route
Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona
Manchester City or Real Madrid vs. Arsenal or Bayern Munich
UCL History
Barcelona has been crowned champions of Europe 5 times, these include their successful runs in the 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015 tournaments. PSG on the other hand has never been victorious in the competition. Last season’s Round of 16 loss to Bayern marked the French champion's eleventh participation in a row in the competition without winning it. Their closest peak in the Champions League was the 2019/20 finals when they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
The quarter-final clash between the duo will see the seventh time (13th and 14th match) that both powerhouses will cross lines in the Champions League, with both teams picking up four wins from the encounters and sharing four draws. There have so far been 44 goals scored in the encounters between both sides in the competition, with the French (23) side scoring twice more than the Spanish side (21).
The clash between Barcelona and Paris Saint-German dates back to the 1994/95 UCL Quarter-finals, with the French side advancing to the Semi-finals with a victory in Paris (3-2 on aggregate), thanks to Guérin’s 83rd-minute winner. PSG eventually lost to AC Milan in the Semi-finals.
The two met a second time at the 2012/13 UCL Quarter-finals. Two well-dragged encounters at Paris and Barcelona ended 3-3 with FC Barcelona progressing to the semi-finals, thanks to the now-discontinued advantage of Goals in European competitions. The Catalans were beaten 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals by later Champions Bayern Munich, marking Barca’s worst-ever defeat in a European competition.
In 2014/15, Barcelona and PSG met in the Champions League for a record four times. Both teams were grouped in Group F with Ajax and APOEL. Les Parisiens on matchday 2 beat Barcelona in Paris with a stunning 3-2 victory. Barca returned the favor and made it to the top of Group F with a convincing 3-1 win at home in Matchday 6. Both teams were matched and faced off again in the Quarter-finals. Barcelona will have the final laugh with a win in both Legs to blow off the French Champions in a 5-1 defeat on aggregate. They beat Juventus in the finals to claim their fifth Champions League title.
The 2016/17 UCL Round of 16 encounter will go down in history as one of the most iconic and controversial games in the Champions League. PSG led Barca with four goals to nothing in the first Leg in Paris and were beaten 6-1 (6-5 on aggregate) in Camp Nou to see Barca through to the quarter-finals, where they got eliminated by Juventus.
Paris Saint-German beat Barcelona in their last meeting in the 2020/21 UCL Round of 16. Kylian Mbappe scored four times against the Catalian giants to see the French Champions cruise to the quarter-finals with a commanding 5-2 victory. They went on to be eliminated by Manchester City in the Semi-finals.
In the current season, It’s no surprise that Kylian Mbappé is the leading goal scorer for Paris Saint-Germain both in the domestic league and Champions League, netting an impressive six goals in the UCL so far. His pace, finishing, and tactical awareness have made him a constant threat to opposition defenses, ensuring his pivotal role in PSG's attacks.
On the other hand, Barcelona has seen their UCL goals distributed among Joao Felix(3), Robert Lewandowski(3), and Ferran Torres(3). Their dynamic playing style under Xavi creates more opportunities for scoring chances from the vast network of attackers, relieving only the central striker from the traditional scoring role.
In terms of assists, Barcelona's Ilkay Gundogan leads with three assists, demonstrating his influence in Barca’s midfield. PSG's Warren Zaire Emery has also been instrumental, providing three crucial assists for PSG in the UCL, highlighting his creativity and playmaking abilities.
FC BARCELONA’S UPCOMING GAMES
Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain (UEFA Champions League, Tuesday 16th April, Kickoff at 20:00) (Agg: 0 - 0)
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona (Spanish La Liga, Sunday 21st April, Kickoff at 20:00)
Barcelona vs. Valencia (Spanish La Liga, Saturday 27th April, Kickoff at 13:00)
Girona vs. Barcelona (Spanish La Liga, Sunday 5th May, Kickoff at 16:00)
Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad (Spanish La Liga, Sunday 12th May, Kickoff at 16:00)
Almeria vs. Barcelona (Spanish La Liga, Wednesday 15th May, Kickoff at 16:00)
Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano (Spanish La Liga, Sunday 19th May, Kickoff at 16:00)
Sevilla vs. Barcelona (Spanish La Liga, Sunday 26th May, Kickoff at 16:00)
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Barcelona's upcoming games will captivate fans worldwide. Each fixture displays the team’s passion for the beautiful game and an opportunity to secure maximum points and finish strong as the La Liga season winds down. A much-needed win against the French Champions will be a stepping stone towards another UEFA Champions League victory.
There's no better time for fans to secure their tickets and be part of the action. Join in and cheer the Blaugrana in their quest for glory and experience the thrills Live football can provide. Get your Barcelona Tickets now and be part of the magic. Explore seat maps, compare prices, and find the ideal spot for an unforgettable experience.