PSG to face tough Barca test in quarters today

Juventus relaxed ahead of Bayern clash in Champions League.


Agencies April 01, 2013
On course to win the domestic title for the first time since 1994, PSG face their toughest test yet when they host Barcelona in an intriguing quarter-final first-leg today. PHOTO: AFP

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have reached the pinnacle of the European game with very different strategies, and the Catalans will be hoping to show their opponents that their way is still the best way when the clubs meet in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg today.

A whole new PSG team has been bought, with Thiago Silva, once a Barcelona target, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the most significant recruits as the club has had more money than anyone else since the arrival of new Qatari owners in 2011.

Aiming to win the Champions League for the fourth time in eight seasons, Barcelona are one of the richest clubs in the world too, and are also backed by Qatari investment.

But they lead the way when it comes to producing world-class players, rather than simply buying them.

Seven home-reared talents started Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo, in which Barca conceded a late equaliser after Lionel Messi netted his 43rd La Liga goal this season.

The rousing comeback from a first-leg defeat to beat AC Milan 4-2 on aggregate in the last-16 has restored confidence, while the squad are relieved to have coach Tito Vilanova back taking training again after two months in New York receiving cancer treatment.



“To see Tito again gave us great happiness,” said Messi. “It is important to have him with us for the run-in. He looks in good shape and is raring to go.”

Juventus all smiles for big clash at Bayern

Juventus will enter today’s heavyweight clash with Bayern Munich with smiles on their faces, an 18-match unbeaten record in Europe behind them and no concerns about the Bavarians’ nine-goal demolition of Hamburg.

Bayern, who won 4-1 in Turin when the teams last met in the 2009-10 season, have a 20-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and produced their most emphatic win of the season on Saturday when they flattened Hamburg 9-2.

They need two more points from six games to wrap up their 23rd German league title.

Italian champions Juventus come into the game with a nine-point lead at home and well on course for a 29th Serie A title.

“We’ll head to Munich with a spring in our step knowing that we’ve done our job on the domestic front,” said Juventus coach Antonio Conte after his side won 2-1 away to bitter rivals Inter Milan on Saturday.

“We’ll head there to keep alive our dream and to test our mettle in the European arena, and we’ll do it with a smile and no fear.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2013.

COMMENTS (1)

KHIZER JALAL | 10 years ago | Reply

Best Wishes for PSG!

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ