How Barcelona should lineup against Paris Saint-Germain

The Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona club crests on their first team home shirts. (Photo by Visionhaus)
The Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona club crests on their first team home shirts. (Photo by Visionhaus)

With Barcelona ready to face Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16 stage, we take a look at which lineup ensures the club’s best chances at a remontada.

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While the Catalans have an impossible task ahead of them after losing the first-leg 1-4 at the Nou Camp, the squad is currently filled with joy and confidence after a rather successful and positive week leading up to this crucial clash.

From reaching the Copa del Rey finals after a thrilling comeback against Sevilla to appointing a new president Joan Laporta to begin a new era, Barca fans and players are arriving at Parc des Princes with utmost confidence.

This newly found success under Ronald Koeman is greatly credited to the adoption of a new 3-5-2 formation with both the full-backs supporting the three-man midfield. This allows both Jordi Alba and Sergino Dest to freely attack while having their backs covered by an additional centre-back.

Meanwhile, the presence of Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele proves to cause havoc in the attack with 5 players around them as support. It is with this lineup that Koeman managed to beat Sevilla 3-0 with the Dutch coach now hoping for a repeat performance against the French giants.

Koeman is expected to feature the same lineup that played against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey semi-finals but a single yet significant change in the defense due to both Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo set to miss the match.

Expected Barcelona Lineup

Goalkeeper: Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Right-back: Sergino Dest

Centre-back: Oscar Mingueza

Centre-back: Clement Lenglet

Centre-back: Samuel Umtiti

Left-back: Jordi Alba

Midfield: Frenkie de Jong

Midfield: Sergio Busquets

Midfield: Pedri

Forward: Ousmane Dembele

Forward: Lionel Messi

What is your predicted scoreline?