Champions League: Early Clash Could Offer a Sign of the Future?

Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain

Now here’s a Champions League contest which would make a fitting final in Hungary next May.

Perhaps it will be.

After all, it very nearly was last season when it took a record number of goals in a two-legged semi-final to settle an epic contest between Barcelona and Inter Milan.

The Nerazzurri edged that and, of course, the Parisiens proved far too strong in Munich just a few short weeks later to claim their maiden European crown.

Depending on who you talk to, Paris St Germain or Barcelona are favourites to be crowned European champions this time around so, while only a group game with lots of room for the vanquished to make amends, this week’s clash could give us an indication of their respective strengths and weaknesses, not to mention deliver a glut of Champions League 2025 highlights.

 

Talking Points

The array of talent on display in the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys is simply mouthwatering.

No Lamine Yamal meant no problem for Barcelona at Newcastle in their opening group game 10 days ago as Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford marked his return to English shores with a match-winning brace.

Yamal returned to action against Real Sociedad in La Liga at the weekend though and set up the winning goal within seconds of arriving as a substitute.

That could mean he starts against the European champions.

Either way, with Rashford, Pedri and the prolific Robert Lewandowski amongst their number, the home side will certainly not be short of attacking talent.

The same cannot be said for the injured quintet of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen (back), Gavi (knee), Joan Garcia (knee), Fermin Lopez (back) or Raphinha (hamstring) who seems to thrive on big European nights.

As for PSG, the names also drop off the tongue as Luis Enrique returns to the stomping ground where he had such an illustrious time as both player and manager (theoretically, that is, as Barca are awaiting a return to their iconic Nou Camp stadium).

Their injury issues are even worse than Barca’s, however.

Newly crowned world player of the year Ousmane Dembele will watch on helplessly from the sidelines as the French international is not expected to return from his hamstring injury until the end of October.

Meanwhile, Desire Doue (calf), Joao Neves (hamstring), Fabian Ruiz (muscle) and captain Marquinhos (thigh) are also keeping Dembele company in the treatment room.

In addition, Enrique will probably have to cope without Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia too.

In other circumstances, I would have edged towards PSG to get at least a draw in this one but I think the injuries will prove too much for a team which opened their campaign in style a fortnight ago with a 4-0 home thrashing of the Italians of Atalanta – Marquinhos, Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos the men on target.

 

History

Many fans will remember a last-16 tie in 2017 when Barca won the second leg 6-1 after being thrashed 4-0 in Paris.

That tie still reverberates with me as the Catalonians were awarded two penalties, both of which were highly questionable, to claim a 6-5 aggregate success.

PSG have since gained revenge twice.

When they next met at the same stage of the competition in 2021, PSG ran out 5-2 winners on aggregate, which included a 4-1 triumph in Spain.

They turned the tables again in the quarter-finals in 2024 when, despite a 3-2 Barca success in Paris, Enrique’s men recovered from going a further goal behind in the second leg to hit four past their 10-man hosts and seal a 6-4 aggregate success.

On that occasion, Raphinha fired Barca in front but the 29^th minute dismissal of Ronald Araujo changed the contest. Dembele equalised before the break and PSG took control in the second period with goals from Vitinha and a Kylian Mbappe double, one from the penalty spot.

Overall, PSG have five wins, there have been four draws and Barcelona have enjoyed six successes, most notably the 1997 European Cup Winners Cup Final when Brazilian legend Ronaldo scored the only goal from the penalty spot for a team which featured Enrique in midfield and was managed by the late Bobby Robson.

 

Betting Tip

Our SBOTOP Champions League 2025 betting odds back Barca 1X2 @ 1.90 and injury-hit PSG @ 3.25.

The Draw is on offer @ 3.73 and that is probably what I would have recommended in normal circumstances.

Given their level of absentees, I have to plump for Barca and while I have been very tempted by Half Time Full Time Draw Home @ 5.70, my *** tip is Asian Handicap Barca -0.75 @ 2.14.

   

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