With
the return of Champions League football, comes the arrival of clash of titans.
Two of European giants will go head to head tonight in Champions League 2nd
game week. At such an early stage, this match will give us insight how these
two teams will fare among Europe’s elite this year.
FC Barcelona have been in top form this season. After a rather unusual trophy-less
campaign for the Catalans last year, they have been in superb form under
new manager Luis Enrique. The Spanish side is yet to concede a goal in La Liga
and Champions League this season. With a blistering goal difference of +17 in just
6 league matches, they are certainly the team to avoid at this stage.
PSG
are exactly on the wrong side of luck as compared to Barcelona. After 8
matches, the French Champions has won only 3 matches with 5 draws. They have
been held by a lot of 1-1 draws. Even in their first match against Ajax, they
looked last lustre and returned home after another 1-1 score-line.
PSG
have won 70% of Ligue 1 matches in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic started, as
compared to just 42.9% matches missed by him.
Another
big blow for Laurent Blanc’s men is that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out
of this match due to an injury. The Swedish striker missed last 2 matches of
Ligue 1 and was expected to make return for this vital clash but he was unable
to pass the fitness test held on Monday.
One
thing which goes in PSG favour is their home record in Europe. The French
Champions have not lost at Parc des Princes in their last 29 matches. Laurent
Blanc has turned it into a fortress for PSG in recent years.
If
you look at last 5 matches played between PSG and Barcelona, it portrays an
exactly balanced picture. Both teams have won 1 match each with 3 draws. This
will be the 6th match which will be played between these two sides. Last time
these two sides met, FC Barcelona knocked PSG out of Champions League in
2013-14 on away goal rules.
It’ll
be really tough to call who will come out as winners in Tuesday’s clash. But
one thing is for sure, this match will really be worth watching for both sets
of fans and neutrals.
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