Paris Saint Germain vs Barcelona: Prediction and Betting Tips

Paris Saint Germain aware of not repeating the 2017 defeat

Since that win in Camp Nou, PSG have won three away matches with three clean sheets and won the only home game they played against Monaco 2-0. But coach Mauricio Pochettino knows that Barca are on a different level and he has to adopt a different system of play.

In the group stage, PSG won four games and lost two, and finished top of Group H. They had a very difficult matchup with Barcelona in the knock-out stage. PSG had an absolutely perfect game in the 1st leg at Camp Nou with the incredible Kylian Mbappe scoring a hat-trick.

After Lionel Messi opened up the scoring through a penalty, Mbappe took matters into his own hands and scored a hat-trick, and created many chances. With 16 goal attempts and eight shots on target, PSG showed they were brave enough to attack Barca in their own courtyard.

Barcelona in a good form to put up a fight

Barcelona will be hoping to repeat the incredible comeback they had against PSG in 2017 when Barca lost the first leg in Paris 4-0 and won the second leg 6-1 to eliminate the French team. But this time the fixture is reversed and the second leg is in Paris.

But a team of Barcelona’s caliber is never left out of any fixture and even if they have to fight off a 4-1 deficit. In the first leg match Ronald Koeman’s defense couldn’t deal with the pace and efficiency of the PSG attack, THe Dutch coach has to find a way to stop the young Frenchman.

The Blaugrana are in very good form recently as they have won their last four matches in the La Liga and Copa del Rey. Koeman knows they have a difficult task in Paris but as they have done many times before, Barca will fight and try to turn things around.

Key Stats

• PSG have lost one match and won two at home in the Champions League this season

• PSG have three wins and clean sheets in the last three matches

• Barcelona are unbeaten in seven away matches in the Champions League
• Barcelona have scored four goals in their last two away games.

Paris SG vs Barcelona Prediction

In the previous nine matches between these two teams, 78% of their matches have seen both teams score and over 3.5 goals had been scored. In the Champions League, Barcelona’s six matches of seven saw over 2.5 goals and PSG’s five of seven matches saw over 2.5 goals.

There is only one way for Barcelona to qualify for the next round and that is to win 3-0 or by 4 goals if PSG scores. This means Koeman will play a maximum attacking game and press their opponents high in their third to prevent them take the ball out of their third.

That might expose Barca’s defense if the balance is lost between defense and attack and the likes of Mbappe and possibly Neymar if he returns from injury can hurt Koeman’s side on the counter-attacks. We predict over 2.5 goals in this match.