A critique of Barcelona's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg encounter with Paris Saint-Germain And then there were ten. Despite dropping 2-0 behind to AC Milan in the Round of 16, FC Barcelona created one of the greatest-ever European comebacks to book their invest the quarter-finals of the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League. All that stands involving the Blaugrana and an area in the ultimate four is Paris Saint-Germain a' who have reached the quarter-finals for only the second amount of time in their 43 year history. PSG could be piled with talent; and they are light emitting diode by certainly one of Europeas most successful instructors, but the two-legged tie is entered by them as underdogs in desperate need of a win in tomorrowas first-leg at the Parc des Princes. Should Ancelottias area suffer defeat...well, Barcelona are undefeated within the last few five years of Champions League knockout accessories at the Camp Nou... TEAM INFORMATION BARCELONA Carles Puyol continues to be sidelined last month after he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, and he's registered on the sidelines by Pedro Rodriguez (who is both hurt and suspended for tomorrowas fixture) and Adriano Correia. However, significant midfielder Xavi HernAndez has recovered from his newest injury set-back to be named in the squad along with Jordi Alba, who missed Saturdayas 2-2 attract with Celta Vigo through injury. Considering that Eric Abidal has fully recovered following his liver transplant, Barcelona can have a fully healthy squad at their disposal within the next month a' just with time for a potential UEFA Champions League semi-final, provided they beat Paris Saint-Germain. Victor ValdAs can return to simply take his rightful devote target tomorrow; even if he has yet another fit to serve on his four-game La Liga suspension, the Catalan remains Barcelonaas undeniable first-choice between your stays. Exceptional in Spainas 1-0 make an impression on France, ValdAs will be willing to duplicate not only last weekas global performance, but additionally what will undoubtedly go down as the performance of his profession a' that infamous night in Paris where his heroics encouraged the Blaugrana to their second European Cup. A clean sheet wouldnat always book Barcelonaas devote the following round, nor would it even secure victory; but when ValdAs is on variety, you better believe that BarAa stand a better possibility of getting a good result. In safety, Dani Alves will start at right-back a' from the very area which was rumoured to want to consider securing his services earlier this summer. Alves is yet to join up an assist in this seasonas Champions League, but he comes with an objective to his name a' more than we can say of Pedro as an example a' and has contributed some excellent defensive play through the previous rounds. The Brazilian is likely to be joined in protection by Gerard PiquA, and Javier Mascherano, who has started six of Barcelonaas eight Champions League matches so far this season a' is it a coincidence that BarAa dropped against Milan without Mascherano in the beginning XI? Jordi Alba could have only just returned from injury, but should start in front of Martin Montoya at left-back. Sergio Busquets may start at pivote, with Xavi HernAndez and AndrAs Iniesta more likely to start in front of the Catalan Player of the Year in the Barcelona midfield. Involving the three of them, Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets average a combined 356 moves per UEFA Champions League match at an success rate of 93.2%; once the group start together in midfield, Barcelona seldom lose. In the end result that Tito opts to help keep Xavi on the bench, expect you'll see Cesc FAbregas start ahead of Thiago AlcAntara; but if the preceding round taught us something, itas that Xavi can start no matter damage. Going onto the attack, Lionel Messi will certainly start, and David Villa is nearly certain to join the Argentine in attack despite his (comparatively) poor record in this seasonas Champions League; but who'll join Messi and Villa in the BarAa attack? Cristian Tello staked his claim for a starting place with a well-taken purpose against Celta Vigo, but he's prone to face stiff opposition from the hard-working Chilean, Alexis SAnchez a' and probably even Gerard Deulofeu. Well, maybe not Deulofeu; but despite Pedro injured/suspended, neither Tello nor SAnchez are guaranteed a spot in the beginning XI. Personally, I'd go for SAnchez a' we're looking for a right-winger after all a' but I could see why Tito could be tempted to begin Tello... PSG Zlatan Ibrahimovic can be obtained for collection after UEFA paid down his two-match suspension upon appeal, but fear perhaps not, Ibra hasn't emerged victorious from the Blaugrana. He might have contributed to your demise back in 2010 with a string of sluggish tasks, but Zlatan (or Thiago Silva for that matter) hasn't actually defeated Barcelona a' suffering two defeats in three suits. On one other hand, Paris Saint-Germain are unbeaten inside their last 23 European house features and have lost just twice all season at the Parc des Princes. Sure, theyave never faced a group really as harmful as Barcelona, but itas still an impressive record. Thiago Motta has been left, but aside from that, Ancelotti has a full-strength squad at his disposal. SORT INFORMATION Barcelona: LLWWWD PSG: WLDWDW LAST MEETING Hamilton Academical Barcelona 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain a' 14th May 1997 a UEFA Cup Winnersa Cup The past competitive meeting involving the two sides came way back in 1997, as the two sides met in a pre-season pleasant back in August. A Barcelona area featuring the kind of Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Lui$ Figo emerged winning courtesy of a well-taken fee from Ronaldo. REFEREE Wolfgang Marked The last Barcelona fit that Stark officiated broken in the Blaugranaas favour a as a red-card for Pepe helped BarAa to have a 2-0 result in the Camp Nou in their 2011 UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with arch-rivals Real Madrid. LIKELY LINE-UPS Barcelona (4-3-3 ): ValdAs; Alves, PiquA, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; SAnchez, Messi, Property PSG (4-2-3-1 ): Sirigu; Jallet, Thiago Silva, Alex, Maxwell; Matuidi, Verratti; Lucas, Pastore, Lavezzi; Ibrahimovic MATCH FORECAST Barcelona donat have a tendency to travel particularly effectively in the Champions League, and PSG are extremely powerful at home; on paper, this one appears to be headed for a first-leg sketch, but I will see the Blaugrana coming it a' particularly with Tito Vilanova back on the sidelines. 2-1 Barcelona. Follow us on Twitter
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