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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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PARIS, FRANCE – DECEMBER 11: Edinson Cavani of PSG celebrates scoring his second goal during the French Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and OGC Nice at Parc des Princes stadium on December 11, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images,)
PARIS, FRANCE – DECEMBER 11: Edinson Cavani of PSG celebrates scoring his second goal during the French Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and OGC Nice at Parc des Princes stadium on December 11, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images,) /

5. Barça will be playing away first

The way the Champions League format is designed supposedly makes this an advantage. As part of the reward for winning your group, as well as avoiding other winners, is to play away second so you know what you have to do.

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Usually, it works out that way. if a team can score an away goal in the first leg, their mentality changes for the second. But in recent years, a popular tactic for the team playing at home first has found a way to turn the tables.

It is hardly a new groundbreaking idea, but it is sensible for the home team to defend first while the visitors hunt for an away goal. Just as a 2-1 defeat is better than 1-0 for Barcelona in this case, 0-0 suits PSG better than a 1-1.

Stopping the Blaugrana’s attacking threat is a task worth a week of training in itself, but should PSG manage it, suddenly they have the upper hand in the tie.

Travelling to the Camp Nou is always going tough, but PSG should and will back themselves to score in Spain. Are they strong enough at the back to stop Barcelona before that? Time will tell, but this tie is definitely not the foregone conclusion some may think it is.

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