Barcelona vs PSG Matchday Stats Preview

Barcelona have only lost two of their last nine games against Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League (W4 D3), and could win both legs when facing them in a single campaign for only the second time, previously doing so in the 2014-15 quarter-finals.

After going unbeaten in their first five home games against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League (W3 D2), Barcelona lost 4-1 in the most recent one in February 2021 (round of 16, first leg). Indeed, only one side have ever won by more goals away to Barcelona in the competition: Dynamo Kyiv in a group stage game in November 1997 (4-0).

Andreas Christensen’s winner in the first leg was the 50th goal scored in games between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, in what was just the 14th meeting between the sides. Among sides they’ve faced 10+ times in Europe, Barcelona’s games against the French side have averaged more goals per game than against any other opponent (3.6).

Barcelona are looking to qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for a 13th time, and for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign under Ernesto Valverde. Indeed, Real Madrid are the only side to have done so on more occasions, with 16 semi-final appearances (FC Bayern München currently level with Barcelona on 12, ahead of the second leg games).

Should Paris Saint-Germain progress, Luis Enrique would become the first ex-Barcelona manager to eliminate the Spanish side from a UEFA Champions League knockout stage tie. Indeed, only two other Spanish managers have eliminated Barcelona in the knockout stages of the competition: Rafael Benítez with Liverpool in 2006-07 (round of 16) and Vicente del Bosque with Real Madrid in 2001-02 (semi-finals).

Paris Saint-Germain only completed 39% of their dribbles in the first leg of this tie (11/28); their lowest success rate in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game since March 2017, also against Barcelona (33%). Between them, Kylian Mbappé (1/6) and Ousmane Dembélé (1/8) only completed two of their 14 attempts combined in the first leg.

Ilkay Gündogan has created the most chances (24) of any player in the UEFA Champions League this season, as well as having the highest expected assists total (3.7 xA and four assists). His 24 chances created are the most by a Barcelona midfielder in a single campaign in the competition since Xavi in 2012-13 (33).

Pau Cubarsí made the most line-breaking passes of any Barcelona player in the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain (13), while only William Saliba (32) has made more in the competition than Cubarsí (27) since the teenager made his European debut on March 12th.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé has scored 13 goals in 11 away games in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, while only Cristiano Ronaldo (23 goals in 39 games) and Karim Benzema (14 goals in 34 games) have netted more away from home in the knockout rounds of the tournament.

In the first leg of this tie, Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha was the first player have 100+ touches, misplace no more than 2+ passes (82/84) and score a goal in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game since Xavi for Barcelona against Celtic in March 2008 (one goal, 110 touches and 89/91 passes).