FINDING THE NEYMAR OF JANUARY
In January, Neymar was a winning machine. 6 goals and 3 assists in 6 matches showed his best version since he arrived at the club 2 and a half years ago.
But that version of the Brazilian stopped after the injury he suffered on February 1st. The club preserved him and against Borussia Dortmund, he arrived with no momentum, which was noted in his performance, despite scoring the goal that keeps the French outfit's hopes alive.
In the 3 matches he has played since his injury, his numbers are less impressive, but especially his influence on the play. PSG manager, Thomas Tuchel, is clear that he will play all that he can to gain momentum. At the risk of suffering another injury.
MBAPPÉ'S ANGER
The French attacker plays better when he is angry. And that's it. On the one hand with the club's ultras who questioned his and other teammates'' professionalism on a banner. Mbappé responded to them on social media and, since the defeat against Borussia, he has been carrying the team on his back.
He is also unhappy with the management, who have let him know that they will not let him play in the Tokyo Games, the last ones that allow him because of his age.
The anger is translating on the field into an extraordinary performance. Lyon were his most obvious victim, with a superb hat trick, with some anthological goals.
Since the defeat in Germany, he has racked up six goals and his attitude seems to indicate that he wants to show his fans that they were wrong when they told him he was "afraid to win".
The crowd at the Parc des Princes are waiting for their 21-year-old star to play in such an important match so that the legend of failing to win at the big games does not take hold.
THE ABYSS OF FAILURE
The last 16 has become a bogey round for PSG. Knocked out in the last 3 seasons at this stage, on the brink this time. There is a fear that a new failure will make the whole project falter, starting with the commitment of continuity of PSG's stars.
The defeat against Dortmund took the team down a peg and now, the euphoria has translated into fear. If they manage to control it, the team has enough quality to qualify, but for that, they have to show strong personality, beyond their stars.
Since the first leg, the club have been talking about nothing but the return leg, to the point where they can become obsessed. Especially since their opponents won't make it easy for them and the match, with the fans impatient, could soon turn into a war of nerves.
AN URGENT CENTRE-MIDFIELD
Tuchel will not have the Italian Marco Verratti available, who was sent off in Dortmund and is suspended. Without his midfield fulcrum, the German coach knows he is losing an important piece.
Moreover, he is accumulating doubts in the defence, which could lead to him delaying Brazilian Marquinhos at the back, depriving him of another of his key figures in defence.
In that context, Senegal's Gana Gueye and Argentina's Leonardo Paredes could play together for the first time, with the risks involved in experimenting in a match with so much at stake.
CAVANI OR ICARDI
The manager has two cards in attack, but that's not in itself an advantage. Argentina's Mauro Icardi has lost the freshness and skill of the first few months of the season, and Uruguay's Edinson Cavani has regained much after overcoming a long injury, but is still far from his best.
Tuchel has often played with both of their egos to encourage competition and force them to raise their game, at the risk of neither of them facing the match with a high level of confidence.