FC Barcelona to play Paris Saint Germain in Champions League last 16
Monday’s Champions League round of 16 draw has been made, and FC Barcelona will be playing against Paris Saint Germain.
Having finished second in their group, Barça were unseeded and will play the first of the two legs at the Camp Nou on February 16. The return leg will be at the Parc des Princes on March 10.
Previous Meetings between Barça and PSG
It’s a game that immediately brings to mind one of the most famous encounters in Barça history, that of the 2017/18 edition when the Catalans looked to be heading out of the competition after a 4-0 defeat in the French capital. The return leg produced the biggest comeback in competition's history, with Barça winning 6-1 to advance. Sergio Roberto’s last second winner is now a part of club folklore!
But there have been plenty of other meetings between the sides in the past, all in the Champions League apart from the 1996-97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final. Barça have always had the upper hand, apart from the first ever meeting, back in 1995, when it was PSG that progressed.
1994-95 Champions League Quarter Final
Barça 1-1 PSG / PSG 2-1
(PSG advanced 3-2 on aggregate)
1996-97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final
Barça 1-0 PSG
2012-13 Champions League Quarter Final
PSG 2-2 Barça / Barça 1-1 PSG
(Barça advanced on away goals)
2014-15 Champions League Group F
PSG 3-2 Barça / Barça 3-1 PSG
(Barça and PSG both advanced)
2014-15 Champions League Quarter Final
PSG 1-3 Barça / Barça 2-0 PSG
(Barça advanced 5-1 on aggregate)
2016-17 Champions League Round of 16
PSG 4-0 Barça / Barça 6-1 PSG
(Barça advanced 6-5 on aggregate)
PSG form guide
The winners of seven of the last eight editions of Ligue 1 have got off to a slow start this season by their usual high standards. After losing their first two games they then won eight on the trot to go to the top of the table. But they have hit on another bad patch, winning just one of their last four and the 1-0 defeat at home to Lyon last weekend means they have dropped to third. Lille are now in first place.
PSG and RB Leipzig both finished Champions League Group H with 12 points, but the French side edged top spot on goal difference. It meant Manchester United were relegated to the Europa League, with İstanbul Başakşehir closing out the group in fourth.
Familiar faces
One of the big talking points in this clash will be a first meeting (assuming he gets over an ankle injury in time) with Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr, one of the heroes of the famous 6-1 victory, who since 2017 has been at PSG. There is another familiar face in Rafinha, who joined PSG in October. Rafinha is currently also injured, as is Argentinian Mauro Icardi, who spent some of his youth at La Masia.
Neymar has netted 9 goals in all competitions this season, but the top scorer and one of the finest strikers in the world right now, is Kylian Mbappé, with 12 goals. Costa Rican Goalkeeper Keylor Navas and Argentine forward Ángel Di María are also especially well-known to Barça fans following their times at Real Madrid in the past.
Complete Champions League Last 16 draw
Borussia Monchengladbach v Manchester City
Lazio v Bayern Munich
Atlético Madrid v Chelsea
RB Leipzig v Liverpool
Porto v Juventus
FC Barcelona v Paris St-Germain
Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund
Atalanta v Real Madrid