before their quarter-final shock, who from PSG or Barça should assume the status of favorite?

If Luis Enrique refused to comment, Xavi always returned the ball to the Parisian court.

Finally a direct elimination shock against one of the most prestigious clubs in the history of European football. After an affordable double confrontation against Real Sociedad in the round of 16, PSG hosts Barça in the Champions League, Wednesday April 10, at the Parc des Princes. The step is higher, but is it to the point of sticking the label of the outsider on the back of the capital club?

Obviously, the painful memory of the “comeback” of 2017 (1-6 after winning 4-0 in the first leg) is still relatively fresh, despite the revenge taken by Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and the number of Kylian Mbappé at Camp Nou (4-1). Meeting the Blaugranas in the knockout phase has rarely brought luck to the Parisians since moving under the Qatari flag in 2011. Eliminated three times (2013, 2015 and 2017), they are still chasing a first coronation in C1 and envy the five “cups”. with the big ears” of their opponent.

The Parisian dynamic is better

However, Xavi, the Barça coach, clearly identified Paris as “the favourite” of the confrontation since the draw. “Beyond history, there is the economic reality of PSG currently. They can sign players who are out of reach for us”he pressed, squeaking, three weeks ago. “PSG are better than Napoli (Barça’s opponent in the previous round) and we will have to do more, but I don’t think they are favorites. We have as many chances of passing as they do”nuanced striker Joao Felix in an interview with Catalunya Radio.

On the PSG side, there is no question of openly assuming the status of favorite, especially for Luis Enrique, whose communication strives to defuse the pressure on the shoulders of his ambitious team. “There will always be people who will say that we are favorites or that we are not. It is not important. We are not afraid of anything. We will see who is the best after the start. sending. I almost prefer that you consider us as the victim”said Luis Enrique, as provocative as usual, and decided to end his press conference with these words.

On a sporting level, both teams have high morale. Barça has been undefeated for 11 games and will be fresher, having played only three matches over the past month, half as many as PSG over the same period. On the other hand, Paris is no longer in the process of establishing a new era. The project led by Luis Enrique has taken shape. His team has not seen the color of a defeat since November 7 and the trip to Milan (1-2) and has the objective of achieving a 28th unbeaten match in all competitions.

For the bookmakers, the Parisian club is slightly favorite with a view to qualifying for the semi-finals. It must be said that Barça’s last appearance in the last four of an edition of the C1 dates back to 2019. The Catalans remain on two consecutive eliminations in the Europa League and are in search of redemption after what looks like of a downgrade.