It’s impossible to stop Messi – Lucas Moura

Fans are going to see at least two big battles between the players on the pitch.

Draxler has been impressive so far, which is more than can be said for PSG’s summer recruits. The “MSN” trio is ready to achieve continental glory again, and if the road to Cardiff goes through Paris, they’re more than prepared to conquer France.

This time it looks like the mighty Barcelona won’t even reach the last eight, after equaling its worst ever Champions League defeat. The first time was during the 2012-13 season as both the legs ended in a draw, but PSG were eliminated due to the away goals rule.

Each has a Sao Paulo-born sidekick – Lucas Moura for PSG and Neymar for Barcelona – although, while the latter is an established superstar biding his time to take the baton from Lionel Messi, the former remains on the cusp of greatness. Match played at the Parc des Princes.

While Dani Alves was hardly the world’s most accomplished full-back in the traditional sense, he more than made up for it by using attack as his best form of defence. That’s what we are playing for. But PSG is really strong in their home ground as they have just lost one out of 42 games.

The Spaniard’s expertise in negotiating two-legged continental ties is also beyond question – back-to-back Europa League titles with Sevilla prove as much.

The goals came from Di Maria (2), Draxler and Edinson Cavani to effectively dump Barca out of the tie at the halfway point. To those accustomed to years of success, the defining moment of 2015-16 was the Champions League quarterfinal exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

Can PSG keep them at bay and set up a blockbuster return duel at the Nou Camp by claiming a narrow first-leg lead?

Marco Verratti, only back from injury on Friday after a lengthy period on the sidelines, showed no signs of rustiness, dictating the play until he was forced off with an apparent calf problem midway through the second half. After the weekend’s 3-0 win over Bordeaux, several players spoke of the importance of starving Messi of possession.

PSG have never kept a clean sheet against Barcelona (nine games in all competitions).

21 – Borussia Dortmund scored 21 goals in the group stages this season, the record in a Champions League group campaign, whilst Benfica conceded 10 goals, the joint-highest tally among teams left in the competition. “Iniesta, [Lionel] Messi and Neymar create a move in a second”.

Can’t watch the game live?