Barcelona’s upcoming match against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is one that fans around the world are eagerly anticipating. After a thrilling first leg, the question on everyone’s mind is: how many goals will Barcelona need to qualify for the next round?
The First Leg Recap
Before we dive into the calculations, let’s quickly recap what happened in the first leg. The match took place at Camp Nou, and it was a game filled with excitement and drama.
Paris Saint-Germain took an early lead through Kylian Mbappe’s stunning goal in the 27th minute. Barcelona struggled to find their rhythm in the first half but managed to equalize just before halftime with a goal from Lionel Messi.
In the second half, PSG came out strong and dominated possession. They found their breakthrough in the 65th minute when Moise Kean scored, giving them a crucial away goal advantage. Despite Barcelona’s efforts to regain control, PSG held on and secured a 2-1 victory.
The Away Goals Rule
Now let’s talk about the away goals rule, which often comes into play during knockout stages of European competitions.
The away goals rule states that if two teams are tied on aggregate score after both legs, the team that has scored more goals away from home will advance to the next round. In other words, away goals count as double.
This means that Barcelona will need to score at least two goals in order to have a chance of qualifying directly without needing extra time or penalties.
The Scenarios
Let’s consider three different scenarios:
- If Barcelona wins by a scoreline of 2-0
- If Barcelona wins by a scoreline of 3-1
- If Barcelona wins by a scoreline of 4-2
Scenario 1: Barcelona wins 2-0
In this scenario, the aggregate score would be tied at 2-2. However, since Barcelona scored two away goals compared to PSG’s one, Barcelona would advance to the next round.
Scenario 2: Barcelona wins 3-1
If Barcelona manages to win by a scoreline of 3-1, the aggregate score would be tied at 3-3. Again, due to the away goals rule, Barcelona would qualify for the next round.
Scenario 3: Barcelona wins 4-2
In this scenario, the aggregate score would be tied at 4-4. However, PSG would advance to the next round because they scored more away goals (two) compared to Barcelona’s one.
The Final Verdict
Considering the away goals rule and the scenarios we discussed earlier, it is clear that Barcelona needs to win by a minimum of two goals in order to secure their place in the next round without relying on extra time or penalties.
This means that Ronald Koeman’s team will have to be both defensively solid and clinical in front of goal if they want to overturn PSG’s advantage and continue their journey in the Champions League.
Barcelona fans around the world will be eagerly watching and hoping for their team to produce a memorable comeback against PSG.
In conclusion, with their backs against the wall, it is crucial for Barca to play with determination, precision, and a never-give-up attitude to ensure their qualification for the next round.