PSG v Barcelona preview: Attack is the best form of defence for Blanc

Andy West 06:30 30/09/2014
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  • Men to watch: Marco Verratti (l) and Neymar (r).

    Champions League Group Stage

    Stadium- Parc des Princes
    Kick-off: 22:45
    Live today on beIN Sports

    Paris Saint-Germain coach Lau­rent Blanc has promised an attack­ing approach when his team hosts Barcelona at the Parc des Princes tonight.

    The Spanish club have become accustomed to facing a wall of defenders due to their ability to monopolise possession, and PSG’s task tonight is complicated by the absence of star striker Zlatan Ibra­himovic due to a heel injury.

    But Blanc, who spent one year as a player with Barcelona in the mid- 1990s, insists the hosts will be posi­tive as they seek a victory which would strengthen their quest to claim top spot in Group F.

    “We are playing at home and I don’t want to see all 11 players behind the ball,” said Blanc. “I will ask the team just to play. That way we can regain our confidence.”

    PSG’s morale is at a low ebb after a worrying run of form which has seen them draw four of their last five games with a 1-1 scoreline, including the Champions League group opener at Ajax.

    Blanc admitted the absence of ex-Barca star Ibrahimovic is a blow, but urged his team to produce a greater collective effort to over­come the loss of their most talented individual.

    “Zlatan is still nursing his heel injury and that is very unfortu­nate, but I have prepared for the match with this possibil­ity in mind,” he said.

    “It’ll be difficult without him – it always is – but we still have some very tal­ented forwards. We’ll have to compensate with a great team performance.”

    In contrast to PSG’s con­cerns, Barca come into the fixture full of confidence having won six of their sev­en games so far this season without conceding a single goal.

    Luis Enrique’s team warmed up for their trip to Paris with a 6-0 thrashing of Granada at the weekend, but the Barca boss has cautioned his side against complacency by insisting they should regard their opponents as serious title challengers.

    “They are certainly candidates to win the Champions League but so are we,” said Enrique. “We have to be ready to deal with the situation, whether they come to us or we go to them.”

    With the French team’s front­line led by experienced Uruguayan international Edinson Cavani, Enrique believes the loss of Ibra­himovic does not mean his team’s task will become straightforward.

    “Ibrahimovic not playing doesn’t change anything,” he claimed. “He would be an important loss for any team, but nothing changes in the way I’m approaching the game.

    “They will still be a fearsome opponent and have plenty of other resources. They can easily bring the game to us."

    Team news

    PSG: Ezequiel Lavezzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss out, while Thiago Silva is a big doubt. Javier pastore is expected to start behind strikers edinson Cavani and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck.

    Barcelona: Barcelona have close to a full squad, although backup full-back Douglas has been replaced in the squad by Martin Montoya after being forced to pull out with a foot injury. Young midfielder Rafinha is also out.

    Likely lineups:

    PSG: Sirigu, Digne, Marquinhos, Luiz, Van der Wiel, Verratti, Motta, Matuidi, Pastore, Bahebeck, Cavani.

    Barcelona: Bravo, Alba, Mathieu, Mascherano, Alves, Iniesta, Busquets, Rakitic, Neymar, Messi, Munir.

    Players to watch

    PSG: Marco Verratti: The talented Italian is perhaps the best passer of the ball at PSG, leading the club’s stats for volume and accuracy. That ball retention
    will be vital if PSG are to stop Barca hogging possession. He’ll also have an important defensive role and will need to be disciplined tactically and positionally.

    Barcelona: Neymar: His World Cup-ending back injury now seems a blessing in disguise – for Barca at least. Neymar has started the season fresh and bang
    in form netting six goals in five games (only three of them starts). His relationship with Messi is also blooming.

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