SETTABLOID

Barcelona don’t have too much time to celebrate after the amazing win over PSG in the Champions League, and need quickly to turn their attentions back to La Liga for what promises to be a difficult away match against Cádiz on Saturday night.

Barça decide their entire season next week with the second leg of the European quarter-finals against PSG and then a monster El Clásico next Sunday with potential title implications, but that game against Real Madrid will not mean anything if Barça stumble against Cádiz this weekend.

The hosts are in the relegation zone and are desperate for a result against the Catalans, so this will not be easy. Here’s how we think Xavi Hernández will line up his troops for Saturday’s battle.

Defense

Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Xavi has quite the selection headache for this one considering the fact there are two monster games next week without a lot of rest time in between, and after a very demanding game in Paris the coach has no choice but to make some serious rotations for this one.

He’ll already be forced into changes due to suspension, with João Cancelo, Iñigo Martínez and Robert Lewandowski all banned because of yellow card accumulation. There’s also the need to rest some key starters and all three of Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Pau Cubarsí could use a night off before facing Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé again.

An insight into the reward afforded to Xavi’s Barcelona squad for their efforts in putting Paris Saint-Germain to the sword on Wednesday has been forthcoming online.

Barca, of course, are fresh off securing a winning return to action on the continent.

After making the trip to the Parc des Princes for the first leg of the club’s Champions League quarter-final tie with Paris Saint-Germain, the Blaugrana ultimately did enough to emerge on the right side of a 3-2 result.

A whole host of Barcelona’s stars enjoyed stellar individual performances in France’s capital, with the likes of Pau Cubarsí, Jules Koundé and Raphinha having been singled out for praise post-match.

n the end, though, it was the collective excellence of Xavi’s side as a unit which proved the difference in securing a first-leg advantage to take back to Catalunya next Tuesday.

In turn, it only feels appropriate that the club’s stars were rewarded as a group by Joan Laporta and the Barca board.

As revealed by Javier Miguel of Diario AS, Laporta dropped in to the Blaugrana’s dressing room following the full-time whistle at the Parc des Princes, to provide each and every member of Xavi’s squad with a handshake, and some words of encouragement.

Not only that, but Barcelona’s president later went about sourcing a well-earned post-match meal:

‘He did not stop until he found a chain of hamburger restaurants in Paris that brought the players their promised snack,’ it is added.

Former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has taken to social media on Thursday, to provide his response to the tribute paid to him by compatriot Raphinha.

Wide-man Raphinha, for his part, of course took his place front and centre in the headlines across Europe late last night.

As much came as the Brazilian international proved himself decisive in guiding Barcelona beyond PSG, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie between the clubs.

On target to the tune of a brace at the Parc des Princes, Raphinha, alongside Andreas Christensen, ensured that Xavi’s troops boast the advantage heading into next week’s return leg back in Catalunya.

And yet, the former Leeds United star’s Man of the Match display, in itself, was not the only reason for Raphinha turning heads on Wednesday.

In addition, the 27-year-old caught the eye with his celebration, after netting the opener in France’s capital.

This came as Raphinha paid something of a tribute to the aforementioned Neymar, in recreating the celebration utilised by the ex-Barcelona and PSG man during his own time in Europe.

And, as alluded to above, on Thursday, Neymar has provided his response.

Taking to the comments section of a Barcelona Instagram post showcasing Raphinha’s celebration, the ex-Blaugrana wide-man made use of emojis, to show his appreciation for Raphinha:

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is known to be quite an animated character, be it while traveling during games or press conferences he hosts. However, following the game vs PSG, it was noted that he was unusually calm.

According to a report from AS, Laporta appeared to be rather discreet after Barcelona 2-3 win against PSG. He seemed calm, and did not hug anyone, or jump with joy as he usually does, or toast to the win.

The dressing room was also puzzled by this, the report adds, but Laporta did end up giving a small treat to his team.

Burger party

The game was undoubtedly an emotionally charged affair, with the Catalans coming back from 2-1 down to win the game. While the team was celebrating, one would have expected Laporta to join in.

The Spanish politician did not. He did end up buying burgers for the entire team, though, after finding a chain in Paris that would get the orders in bulk for them.

He took advantage of the flight home to relax with Xavi and talk to him, but not about the coach’s future.

The former midfielder seems set in his decision to leave the club at the end of the season, but that will not stop Barcelona from trying to convince him to stay beyond the summer.

Christensen, Raphinha at the heart of the celebrations

While Laporta was surprisingly zipped, Andreas Christensen and Raphinha caught all the attention on their way back home.

The former, especially, was the surprising hero of the game, with his header sealing the win for Barcelona. As someone who is reserved by nature, Christensen was overwhelmed by the reaction of his teammates towards him and all the congratulatory wishes he received.

He was also celebrating his 28th birthday on the day of the win, which only added to the joy for him and others.

Barcelona players were advised not to stop to sign signatures after landing, and complied with the order. Marcos Alonso was the only one who gave his autograph – to a child whose name was also Alonso.

In the electrifying showdown between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg, Robert Lewandowski may not have etched his name on the scoresheet, but his impact resonated across the pitch.

Despite being on the wrong side of his 30s, Lewandowski showcased a masterclass in athleticism and tactical understanding.

Surging across the turf, he covered an astonishing 10.66 kilometres, outpacing his teammates and leaving an indelible mark on the match.

More than just a scorer

Traditionally hailed for his goal-scoring prowess, Lewandowski adopted a different role against PSG. Tasked with a deeper position, he became the linchpin of Barcelona’s strategy, flawlessly executing Xavi’s game plan.

In a high-stakes encounter where driving past defensive barriers was difficult, Lewandowski astutely dropped back and became the axis of Barcelona’s attacks.

His adeptness at receiving the ball enabled seamless transitions and incisive link-up play with his teammates.

In this newfound role, Lewandowski wasn’t just a provider; he represented Barcelona’s spirit of relentless effort. His influence extended beyond creating opportunities as he was a disruptive force, dismantling PSG’s rhythm with his relentless work ethic.

Defensive awareness

Lewandowski’s defensive contributions left an indelible mark on the match as well. Winning five aerial duels and completing an impressive 33 passes with an accuracy of 87.9%, he dictated the tempo of the game with finesse.

His movement inside and outside the penalty area kept PSG’s defence on their toes, creating openings and exploiting spaces with surgical precision.

Furthermore, with five recoveries and two tackles won, he mirrored the defensive grit of his teammates, which was only matched by Ilkay Gundogan and Pau Cubarsi, and bettered just by Joao Cancelo.

As Barcelona’s talismanic figure, Lewandowski proved that age is just a number, leaving an enduring mark on the biggest stage when Barcelona needed the most.

UEFA Technical Observer Giovanni van Bronckhorst analyses the topsy-turvy UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg between Paris and Barcelona.

Barcelona earned their first away win in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage for five years with their 3-2 quarter-final success at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

In this article brought to you by FedEx, UEFA match observer Giovanni van Bronckhorst assesses how they did it. Working together with the UEFA analysis unit, he reflects on the work of Barcelona forwards Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski and he also explains the impact of the substitutions made by both teams’ coaches as the momentum swung one way then the other in an exciting first-leg encounter in Paris.

Key roles for Raphinha and Lewandowski

For Van Bronckhorst, Raphinha was the game’s decisive player and Lewandowski had a significant role too. In Raphinha’s case it was not just his first two Champions League goals which caught the eye of Van Bronckhorst but his high-speed movement. “Raphinha played really well, making runs from deep behind the defence,” said the former Barcelona player.

This first video shows Raphinha at his elusive best and it also underlines the efforts of Lewandowski in creating space for the Brazilian. As Van Bronckhorst added: “Lewandowski was going away from the number nine position to make space for the runners, especially Raphinha and sometimes [İlkay] Gündogan.”

The first clip features Lewandowski’s role in creating the opening goal as he collects the pass from deep by Pau Cubarsí on halfway, spins away from his marker and works the ball wide to Lamine Yamal. Although Gianluigi Donnarumma is first to Yamal’s ensuing centre, he palms the ball only as far as Raphinha who produces a composed finish.

Home coach Luis Enrique admitted afterwards that Lewandowski had been pivotal in providing a target for passes from deep, so enabling Barcelona to escape the hosts’ press. “We know how you beat high pressure especially with a goalkeeper like [Marc-André] ter Stegen and a striker like Lewandowski using the possibility of playing to the last line.”

The second clip showcases the swiftness of Raphinha as he beats Lucas Hernández in a race down the Barcelona left. Then, in the third clip, we see him work in tandem with Lewandowski, illustrating Van Bronckhorst’s observation about his movement around and beyond the target striker. As the observer affirmed: “Lewandowski with his positioning was making space for other players and you had good movement and runs from Raphinha.” Plus, of course, an end product on a night when Raphinha supplied three key passes as well as his two goals which raised his total in all competitions this season to eight.

April 11 – FC Barcelona emerged triumphant from their trip to Paris in the first leg of the Champions League quarter final against PSG on Wednesday night, as Xavi extended his side’s unbeaten run to 12 games.

Wonderkid duo Yamine Lamal and Pau Cubarsi both started for the Catalan club as they dug out a hard-earned 3-2 victory away from home to give themselves a healthy advantage going into the reverse fixture at the Camp Nou next week.

Brazilian winger Raphinha, whose season has been hampered with a string of injuries, opened the scoring with a virtually uncontested shot at goal following a spill from PSG keeper Donnarumma.

Entering into the second half, PSG’s Ousmane Dembele scored against his former club to level the tie with a thumping effort at the near post. Barca boss Xavi mentioned the Frenchman in the pre match press conference, expressing a twinge of jealousy that the Parisiens were able to take away “one of [Barca’s] best players”.

Portuguese midfielder Vitinha converted a sliding finish into the bottom left to double PSG’s lead just three minutes later, finalising a rapid five-minute turnaround since the start of the second half.

The turning point of the match was marked by Pedri’s introduction from the bench, immediately assisting Raphinha with one of his first touches.

Rounding out a dramatic night at the Parc des Princes, Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen scored from a corner situation to give his side a hard-fought victory away from home.

Elsewhere in the quarter finals, Atletico Madrid hosted Borussia Dortmund in a tense 2-1 victory for the home side.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul’s early goal capitalised on a defensive error, opening the scoring in the 4th minute and marking a nightmare start for Edin Terzic’s young Dortmund side.

It was a game of two halves as Atletico doubled up inside the first period of play through wing-back Samuel Lino, before Sebastien Haller’s late finish kept his side in the fight heading into the match at the Signal Iduna Park next week.

Raphinha shines brightest in Paris

Barcelona beat PSG 3-2 on Wednesday on a fantastic Champions League night that featured a host of attacking talent and goals galore at the Parc des Princes.

Much was expected from Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski, but it was Raphinha who shone brightest and went some way to paying off his lofty transfer fee.

The Brazilian’s first Champions League goal put Barca ahead in the tie, while his brilliant second drew the visitors level at a time when Xavi’s side were really wobbling.

Xavi had plenty of praise for the Brazilian after the game on what was surely his most important performance for the club.

“He is a different and differential player because of his potential. He is one of the best players in the world in space,” he said. “He finishes a lot, he has goals. He gives us dynamism, he pressures, he is intense, he has a lot of virtues. I am very happy for him, he deserves it. Very proud.”

Raphinha’s now scored as many goals at Parc des Princes this season as Ousmane Dembele and also stole all the headlines away from golden boy Mbappe.

Of course Lewandowski also deserves credit for a superb display. The Pole may not have been on the scoresheet but his hold-up play and ability to link with team-mates was key.

Barcelona’s returning stars make the difference

Barcelona were boosted by the return from injury of Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Andreas Christensen for the match and all three were key to the win.

Xavi threw De Jong straight back into the starting XI despite the midfielder having missed over a month out with an ankle injury.

Pedri came on in the second half and needed very little time to remind everyone of his quality. His assist for Raphinha’s second goal was a brilliant introduction to the game.

And then there’s Andreas Christensen. The Dane netted the winner straight after coming on to ensure Barca head home with a vital advantage. A perfect way to celebrate his 28th birthday.

The only downside is that he also received a booking, meaning he will miss the second leg at Montjuic and Xavi will need to find a way to cope without the versatile Dane.

Can Barcelona finish the job?

Barcelona’s performance means they are now in a perfect position to go on and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2019.

Yet it’s not as easy as all that, something Xavi was quick to point out after the game in his post-match interview.

“PSG are still the favourites. It will be very difficult to win in Barcelona,” he said. “Today we played well because we were united defensively. I’m very proud, everything worked well. We have to improve our concentration in the first minutes of the second half. We managed to mature and recover from a match that became very difficult.”

PSG certainly showed they can hurt Barcelona, particularly when they came out firing after half-time and scored twice through Vitinha and Ousmane Dembele.

Yet with Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde around, Barcelona can be optimistic they can get the result required to set up a semi against Atletico or Dortmund.

Barcelona will also feel they can plunder more goals, particularly after scoring three times in Paris. In Ilkay Gundogan, they also have the player who has created more chances than anyone else in the Champions League this season.

And Barca’s team spirit should also stand them in good stead. They could have folded after going 2-1 down early in the second half but responded well with a show of unity that will be required again on Tuesday night.

FC Barcelona had another glorious night in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday as the Catalans beat Paris Saint Germain 3-2 in the first away leg of the quarter-finals.

Naturally, Xavi was ecstatic with the result, and as SPORT has reported, the Barcelona head coach shared these feelings with the media after the end of the match.

Xavi admitted that nothing was concluded as yet, as Barcelona still had to take care of the second leg, but he still was very proud of his team’s efforts:

“There’s nothing done yet; we’re only halfway there. But it’s a moment to feel proud of the team. We have to feel proud to say that Barcelona is alive. It’s a victory that generates more excitement among Barcelona fans.”

The Barcelona trainer was also very happy with how his team had reacted after going down a goal in the second half:

“In recent years, we used to collapse when we were behind on the scoreboard. Today we took a step forward. We matured the game a lot, we had days to work on it, both in attack and defense.”