A preview of Barcelona's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg encounter with Paris Saint-Germain And then there have been ten. Despite dropping 2-0 behind to AC Milan in the Round of 16, Hamilton Academical Barcelona developed one of the greatest-ever European comebacks to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League. All that stands involving the Blaugrana and an area in the last four is Paris Saint-Germain a' who have reached the quarter-finals for just the 2nd time in their 43 year history. PSG could be piled with talent; and they're led by among Europeas most successful coaches, but they enter the two-legged tie as underdogs in desperate need of a gain in tomorrowas first-leg at the Parc des Princes. Should Ancelottias side suffer defeat...well, Barcelona are undefeated within the last five decades of Champions League knockout fittings at the Camp Nou... GROUP MEDIA BARCELONA Carles Puyol continues to be sidelined after arthroscopic knee surgery was undergone by him last month, and he's registered on the sidelines by Pedro Rodriguez (who is both injured and suspended for tomorrowas fixture) and Adriano Correia. However, significant midfielder Xavi HernAndez has recovered from his newest injury set-back to be named in the team along with Jordi Alba, who missed Saturdayas 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo through injury. Considering that Eric Abidal has fully recovered following his liver transplant, Barcelona may have a fully healthy group at their disposal within the next month a' just in time for a possible UEFA Champions League semi-final, provided they conquer Paris Saint-Germain. Victor ValdAs may come back to take his rightful devote goal tomorrow; even if he's yet another fit to serve on his four-game Manhunter Liga suspension, the Catalan remains Barcelonaas undisputed first-choice between the stays. Exemplary in Spainas 1-0 conquer France, ValdAs will be eager to replicate not merely last weekas international performance, but also what will inevitably drop as the performance of his profession a' that famous night in Paris where his heroics inspired the Blaugrana with their second European Cup. A clean sheet wouldnat always book Barcelonaas invest the next round, nor will it actually secure victory; but if ValdAs is on form, you better think that BarAa stand a better chance of securing a good outcome. In security, Dani Alves will start at right-back a' from the very side that was stated to be thinking about securing his services earlier this summer. Alves is yet to join up an assist in this seasonas Champions League, but he comes with an objective to his name a' significantly more than we are able to say of Pedro for instance a' and has offered some exemplary defensive play throughout the previous times. The Brazilian probably will be joined in protection by Gerard PiquA, and Javier Mascherano, who has begun six of Barcelonaas seven Champions League matches to date this year a' is it a chance that BarAa dropped against Milan without Mascherano in the beginning XI? Jordi Alba may have only returned from damage, but must start before Martin Montoya at left-back. Sergio Busquets can start at pivote, with Xavi HernAndez and AndrAs Iniesta likely to start in front of the Catalan Player of the Year in the Barcelona midfield. Between your three of them, Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets average a combined 356 moves per UEFA Champions League match at an success rate of 93.2%; once the trio start together in midfield, Barcelona seldom lose. In the result that Tito chooses to help keep Xavi on the bench, expect to see Cesc FAbregas start forward of Thiago AlcAntara; however if the previous round taught us such a thing, itas that Xavi can start aside from damage. Going onto the attack, Lionel Messi will demonstrably begin, and David Villa is nearly certain to join the Argentine in attack despite his (comparatively) poor record in this seasonas Champions League; but who'll join Messi and Villa in the BarAa attack? Cristian Tello staked his claim for a starting place with a well-taken target against Celta Vigo, but he is prone to face stiff opposition from the hard-working Chilean, Alexis SAnchez a' and perhaps even Gerard Deulofeu. Well, not Deulofeu; but despite having Pedro injured/suspended, neither Tello or SAnchez are assured a location in the XI. Personally, I'd go for SAnchez a' we are looking for a right-winger all things considered a' but I can see why Tito could be tempted to start Tello... PSG Zlatan Ibrahimovic can be obtained for selection after UEFA paid down his two-match suspension upon attraction, but fear not, Ibra hasn't emerged victorious contrary to the Blaugrana. He might have led to your death back in 2010 with a line of lazy activities, but Zlatan (or Thiago Silva for instance) has never really defeated Barcelona a' putting up with two defeats in three matches. On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain are unbeaten within their last 23 European home accessories and have lost only twice all year at the Parc des Princes. Sure, theyave never faced a team really as harmful as Barcelona, but itas still a remarkable record. Thiago Motta has been left, but aside from that, Ancelotti has a full-strength team at his disposal. TYPE MANUAL Barcelona: LLWWWD PSG: WLDWDW LAST CONFERENCE Hamilton Academical Barcelona 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain a' 14th May 1997 a UEFA Cup Winnersa Cup The final competitive meeting between the two sides came way back in 1997, while the two sides met in a pre-season friendly back in August. A Barcelona area featuring the likes of Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Lui$ Figo appeared triumphant due to a well-taken fee from Ronaldo. REFEREE Wolfgang Huge The final Barcelona match that Stark officiated broken in the Blaugranaas favour a as a red-card for Pepe helped BarAa to take a 2-0 cause the Camp Nou in their 2011 UEFA Champions League semi-final battle with arch-rivals Real Madrid. LIKELY LINE-UPS Barcelona (4-3-3 ): ValdAs; Alves, PiquA, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; SAnchez, Messi, Accommodation PSG (4-2-3-1 ): Sirigu; Jallet, Thiago Silva, Alex, Maxwell; Matuidi, Verratti; Lucas, Pastore, Lavezzi; Ibrahimovic MATCH PREDICTION Barcelona donat tend to travel especially well in the Champions League, and PSG are exceptionally powerful at home; on paper, this 1 seems to be headed for a first-leg draw, but I could see the Blaugrana coming it a' especially with Tito Vilanova back on the sidelines. 2-1 Barcelona. Follow us on Twitter
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