FC Barcelona holds a commanding lead heading into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), putting them in a prime position to secure a semi-final spot for the first time since the 2018/19 season. Xavi’s side secured a thrilling 3-2 victory in the first leg last week, a match that saw the Catalans take an early lead before falling behind, only to fight back and claim victory.

This result provides Barça with the luxury of knowing that a draw will be enough to see them through, and with a positive home record against French clubs (9 wins, 2 draws, 2 defeats), the team should be confident in their ability to progress. However, one factor that could sow seeds of doubt in the minds of the players is their last home match against a Ligue 1 opponent, a 4-1 defeat to none other than PSG.

Despite this setback, history suggests that qualification is far from out of reach for Barça. In Champions League history, only one team has ever overturned a four-goal deficit from the first leg, and it was in this very fixture. The prospect of needing to win by two clear goals to force extra time is therefore a realistic one for PSG, especially with players like Kylian Mbappé at their disposal.

Unfortunately for the Parisians, they were on the receiving end of that famous 6-1 ‘remontada’ at the hands of then-Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, a result that reflects their mediocre away record against Spanish teams (6 wins, 3 draws, 9 defeats). Overall, it’s hard to shake the feeling that PSG’s tally of defeats in this competition could reach double figures, especially considering that they have lost the second leg of a European knockout tie on all seven occasions where they have lost the first leg at home.

Key Players to Watch

Raphinha: The Brazilian winger scored his first two Champions League goals in the first leg, both after the half-hour mark, just as seven of his eight previous goals for Barcelona had been.

Kylian Mbappé: The French superstar bagged a hat-trick in PSG’s last Champions League encounter at the Camp Nou and has a knack for scoring in Spain, having netted a brace against Real Sociedad in the round of 16.

Hot Stat: Both teams have scored in 11 of PSG’s last 12 away Champions League matches.