The UEFA Champions League draw has been made and brings some fascinating fixtures onto the footballing calendar. From a Barcelona point of view, it is safe to say that it has gone well.
The Catalan kings are drawn up against Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinal stage. The two legs will be played over the next 30 days and gives Xavi’s men a good path to the final.
PSG with a handicap
The first leg between Barcelona and PSG will be played at the Parc des Princes on either April 9th or 10th.
For the clash in Paris, the French club will be without the services of star defender Achraf Hakimi owing to an accumulation of yellow cards.
The 25-year-old serves as PSG’s primary right-back this season, playing 19 league games scoring three goals and providing four assists in the process. Further, he averages 1.6 key passes and over five defensive actions per game.
The former Real Madrid man has a goal in his eight appearances in the Champions League.
His absence for the first leg is thus big news for Barcelona, and Xavi will look to capitalise on the same to take home an advantage.
A golden draw
Should Barcelona manage to outdo PSG over the two legs next month and make it to the final four, they have a dream draw awaiting them.
Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Arsenal and Real Madrid have all been drawn on the same side of the bracket, implying that a potential semifinal for the Blaugranas would be against the victors of Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund.
Both clubs have a rich history in the UCL and will not be easy to get past. However, it is safe to say that Barcelona will be the favourites to advance to the final should they get past PSG.
The Champions League trophy is suddenly not looking as elusive anymore.
Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/rival-watch-psg-key-defender-will-miss-barcelona-clash-through-suspension/
Author : Adithya Eshwarla
Publish date : 2024-03-15 12:43:50
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