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5 reasons Barcelona should be wary of PSG in the Champions League

By Harry De Cosemo

Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (L) is congratuled by Paris Saint-Germain's Polish midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League group A football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Basel at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on October 19, 2016. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (L) is congratuled by Paris Saint-Germain's Polish midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League group A football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Basel at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on October 19, 2016. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti of PSG during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes on October 23, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport) (Photo by Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti of PSG during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint Germain and Marseille at Parc des Princes on October 23, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport) (Photo by Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport via Getty Images) /

3. PSG’s strong midfield

Key to that very victory were the aforementioned Verratti and Matuidi. Although neither are known for their goalscoring abilities, they proved the difference and they can certainly do so again.

Few players can control a game like Andres Iniesta, and while Verratti is known for playing in a deeper role than the Spaniard, he cannot be underestimated when going up against the 32-year-old.

The Italian, who is still just 24, has immense close control and a great passing range. He has been chased by a number of the world’s biggest clubs, and is someone we suggested could be a future Real Madrid star, having been named the heir to the great Andrea Pirlo.

Such praise means Barcelona would be incredibly naive to assume that, like in most games, they will have full control of central areas in terms of possession, especially when they travel to Paris.

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Matuidi offers something completely different. The France international is criminally underrated by those who do not watch him regularly and despite not possessing brute strength, he is built like an athlete meaning he can literally ‘run’ a game. That is not to put down his impressive technical ability, either.

Against Manchester City, Barcelona badly missed the injured Iniesta. His absence compromised Sergio Busquets, who keeps things ticking for them. If Iniesta plays, everything should be in their favour, but Barcelona must be on their guard.

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