Confirmed Barcelona and PSG starting lineups in Champions League

It’s crunch time for FC Barcelona. The azulgrana will play the biggest game of their season so far this Tuesday, April 16 (KO 3pm ET / noon PT) at the Lluís Companys stadium as they look to qualify for the Champions League semifinals against PSG.

Xavi Hernandez’s team come into the game with a slight advantage after winning 2-3 at the Parc des Princes, but everything will be decided at Montjuïc.

The match against Luis Enrique’s team will see Barcelona put their entire season on the line, meaning Xavi has no other choice but to start with his best team.

The Catalan coach chose to rotate his side in LaLiga against Cádiz and will have a squad full of fresh legs to take on a tough PSG who play a very intense game, applying a suffocating pressure in the opponent’s half.

For the tie, Barcelona have important absentees due to suspension. Neither Sergi Roberto nor Christensen, the scorer of the winning goal in Paris, are able to play. This means the options in the midfield are minimal. The coach will rely on Frenkie de Jong, Gündogan and Pedri, with the latter decisive in the first leg as he provided the assist for Raphinha’s second goal.

A key question will be to find out who occupies the base of the midfield, with both Pedri and Gundogan able to play higher up the pitch.

There is no doubt about the other areas of the pitch. In defence, Koundé will remain on the right, the centre will be saved for Araújo and Cubarsí while Cancelo will play on the left. As in Paris, the awareness to mark Mbappé and Dembélé will be key.

Up front, Lewandowski will play as a centre-forward and will be accompanied by Lamine Yamal on the right and Raphinha, the MVP with his brace at the Parc des Princes, on the left. With this eleven, Barça will be looking to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2019.

PSG starting lineup confirmed

Marquinhos and Lucas will be flanked on either side by Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, with Donnarumma behind the line in between the sticks. Luis Enrique will stick with the formation that lost last week and go with Vitinha, Fabián and Zaïre-Emery, as he looks to block the middle third of the pitch and overrun Xavi’s engine room.

As for the front line, it will be made up of Barcola, Mbappé and Dembélé, who had differing performances in Paris. Mbappé was largely absent while the latter shone once again against a Spanish side, scoring a fantastic goal and one that proved key to keeping PSG alive in the competition.

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Hernandez, Nuno Mendes; Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Dembele, Mbappé, Barcola

The game between Barcelona and PSG will be played on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Kick-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET/ noon PT. Follow the action live on AS USA as it happens, as well as the buildup and all the fallout.