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Barcelona travel to Paris looking for a spot in the Champions League semi-finals

PSG v Barcelona, Parc de Princes, 7.45pm The top two teams in Group F of this seasons Champions L...



Barcelona travel to Paris look...
Soccer

Barcelona travel to Paris looking for a spot in the Champions League semi-finals

PSG v Barcelona, Parc de Princes, 7.45pm

The top two teams in Group F of this seasons Champions League meet again in Paris tonight.

In both group games, the home sides were victorious with PSG winning in Paris 3-2. Just before Christmas, Barcelona won 3-1 in the return match.

Lionel Messi has returned to his Ballon d'Or winning form after last season proved to be underwhelming for the Argentine attacker.

He leads Barcelona at the top of the charts for goal scoring and assists and will be at the fulcrum of the Catalan's attack this evening. 

After his red card at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, Zlatan Ibrahimovic misses out for PSG through suspension.

Midfielder Marco Verratti is also out through suspension and Brazilian David Luiz misses out through injury.

Laurent Blanc's side are looking for the French quadruple this season. They won the French League Cup last weekend, are currently top of Ligue 1 and face Auxerre in the French Cup Final next month

Barca have not won in France in European competition in their last four games.

Messi is one goal short of scoring 400 for the four time European Champions. If he scores tonight, his team will have a great chance of reaching the last four.

FC Porto v Bayern Munich, Estadio do Dragao, 7.45pm

This pairing is the only one in the quarter finals that sees two former European winners facing off.

It is 15 years ago, this week that these two sides last clashed in the Champions League. The German side advanced 3-2 over two legs in the quarter finals.

The Portuguese side are unbeaten in this years tournament and are looking to reach the semi finals for the first time since 2004.

Jose Mourinho was the manager of that side who went on to win the club's second European title after beating Monaco in the final.

Jackson Martinez, who has scored 26 times for Porto this season is a doubt for tonight, and will be badly missed if he fails to feature.

Bayern are looking to reach the semi finals for the fourth year in a row.

They are also looking to emulate the 2013 side by winning the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola's side are already 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and face Dortmund in the cup semi finals.

The side drew scoreless with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine in the last 16 before winning the second leg 7-0 in Munich.

Do not be surprised if something similar happens in this tie.

Bayern are depleted for tonight's game with Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben among those missing.

Guardiola will be confident of having too much for Julen Lopetegui's side in Munich, no matter what happens tonight.

 

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