How Can Barcelona Qualify Against PSG?

Barcelona has a daunting task ahead of them after losing the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 1-4. But it’s not over yet for the Catalan giants. They still have a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals, and here’s how they can do it.

Score Early and Often

Barcelona needs to score goals, and they need to do it quickly. They can’t afford to sit back and wait for opportunities to come their way. The team needs to be aggressive from the start, press high up the pitch, and create as many chances as possible.

Exploit PSG’s Weaknesses

PSG is a formidable opponent, but they do have weaknesses that Barcelona can exploit. One of those weaknesses is their defense. The French champions have conceded 16 goals in Ligue 1 this season, which is more than any other team in the top four.

Barcelona should focus on attacking down the wings as PSG’s full-backs tend to push forward, leaving space behind them. Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembele can take advantage of these spaces with their pace and dribbling abilities.

Keep Possession

Barcelona is known for their possession-based style of play. They need to keep hold of the ball as much as possible and control the tempo of the game. By doing so, they can limit PSG’s opportunities to counter-attack.

Defend Well

While Barcelona needs to attack aggressively, they also need to be mindful of PSG’s attacking prowess. The French side has some world-class attackers in Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr., who can punish even the slightest defensive errors.

Barcelona needs to defend well as a unit and not leave any gaps in their backline. They need to close down PSG’s attackers quickly and not give them any space to operate in.

Take Advantage of Set-Pieces

Set-pieces can be a great way to score goals, especially in tight matches. Barcelona has some tall players like Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo, who can pose a threat from corners and free-kicks.

The team should practice set-pieces in training and look to take advantage of any opportunities that come their way during the match.

Conclusion

Barcelona has a tough task ahead of them, but it’s not impossible. They need to be aggressive, exploit PSG’s weaknesses, keep possession, defend well, and take advantage of set-pieces.

If they can do all these things, they have a chance of qualifying for the quarterfinals. It won’t be easy, but then again, nothing worthwhile ever is.