Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain LIVE commentary: Mbappe on brink of Champions League exit against Spanish giants – kick-off time, team news and how to follow

Barcelona can eliminate Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League this Tuesday evening, live on talkSPORT 2.

The Spanish giants emerged victorious in the first leg, winning 3-2 in Paris after coming back from 2-1 down to take the lead.

Xavi’s side now just need to avoid defeat to reach the semi-finals of the competition and set up a clash against either Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund.

Barca have not lost a match since January in all competitions and will aim to maintain that form against PSG who have not played since the first leg.

Barcelona vs PSG: History calls us

Barcelona can make history this week if they progress.

If they reach the semi-finals, it would be the 13th time and they would overtake Bayern Munich in the record books.

They would become the team with the second most appearances in the last four matches of the competition, behind rivals Real Madrid, who have 16.

However, if they lose, PSG and their manager Luis Enrique will join the record books.

Enrique has the chance to become the first former Barca boss to knock his former club out of a Champions League knockout match.

In fact, only two Spanish managers have managed to take down the giants before, with Rafa Benitez and Vicente del Bosque doing so in 2007 and 2002 respectively.

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• After remaining unbeaten in their first five home matches against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League (W3 D2), Barcelona lost 4-1 in the last one in February 2021 (round of 16 first leg). . Indeed, only one team has won by more goals than Barcelona in the competition: Dynamo kyiv in a group stage match in November 1997 (4-0).
• Barcelona have lost just two of their last nine matches against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 (W4 D3) and could win both matches when facing them in a single campaign for the second time only, as before. in the 2014-15 quarter-finals.

Barcelona vs PSG: team news

Xavi was able to rest many of his key players against Cadiz last time out, with Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo playing no part.

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal made appearances from the bench as Pedri continued his return from injury.

Former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen and Sergi Roberto are both suspended for the second leg of this match.

Gavi and Alejandro Balde will be absent due to injury.

On the PSG side, Presnel Kimpembe and Sergio Rico remain the only two players definitively excluded.

Nordi Mukiele is doubtful but he will only be a replacement if he is fit as Achraf Hakimi will continue at right-back.

Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele will again start on the wings while Goncalo Ramos will likely be preferred to Marco Asensio in attack.

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• Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé has scored 13 goals in 11 away games in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, while only Cristiano Ronaldo (23 goals in 39 games) and Karim Benzema (14 goals in 34 matches) have scored more away from home. at home during the round of 16 of the tournament.
• Pau Cubarsí made the most assists of any Barcelona player in the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain (13), while only William Saliba (32) made more in the competition than Cubarsí (27) since the teenager made his European championship. debuts March 12.

Barcelona vs PSG: What was said?

Xavi expects ‘huge football war’ against PSG.

Speaking after Barcelona’s win at the weekend, he said: “I have a very good relationship with the players, I believe in the family we are within the group.

“I knew we were going to take a step forward. I think we have progressed at group level. We defend better, we have more ambition. We are in the best moment of the season.

“We haven’t lost a match in three months. I consider the team to be very good. We are in a great dynamic and we must take advantage of it.

“Now comes the best, the most beautiful, the most exciting, the ideal scenario to compete.

“We have a fantastic football war on Tuesday, then the Clásico. We want to do something great knowing that things are complicated.

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• Paris Saint-Germain only completed 39% of their dribbles in the first leg of this confrontation (11/28); their lowest success rate in a UEFA Champions League knockout match since March 2017, also against Barcelona (33%). Between them, Kylian Mbappé (1/6) and Ousmane Dembélé (1/8) only made two of their 14 cumulative attempts in the first leg.
• Andreas Christensen’s winning goal in the first leg was the 50th goal scored in matches between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, in what was only the 14th meeting between the two teams. Among teams they have faced more than 10 times in Europe, Barcelona’s games against the French team have averaged more goals per game than against any other opponent (3.6).

Barcelona vs PSG: talkSPORT coverage

This Champions League quarter-final second leg will take place on Tuesday April 16.

Kick-off at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

talkSPORT 2 will cover the match live.

Commentary will come from Ian Danter and former England defender Danny Mills.