If the intensity of emotions is measured by the height of expectations, Xavi's transformed Barcelona has broken the scoreboard. Nobody expected, not even the company itself, that that depressed team, which any rival would shake and from which the coach resigned, would be ready tonight, two months or so later, to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals after starring in an escalation. worthy of study. The reasons for the metamorphosis, football and emotional, arise from a mix between tactical decisions (defensive security), colossal appearances (from Cubarsí to Sergi Roberto), individual improvements (Koundé, Raphinha and Lewandowski) and that unfathomable part of football that makes a losing dynamic gives way to an irresistibly winning one. Barça confirmed in Paris that it is another team. Basically he has found the formula to be that way again. Today he wants to make good the advantage (2-3) achieved in the hostile Parc des Princes by replicating a great performance against a PSG loaded with good players and a desire for revenge.
Barcelona fans are very excited about the game. It seems that the mass of society had assumed that the season was going wrong and suddenly they have become excited about an opportunity that they considered impossible. If the League seems far away despite the Blaugrana's persistence in chasing Madrid, the Champions League appears as a possibility. Barça will be in the final of the competition, overcoming the enormous obstacle tonight and the semifinals against the winner of the tie between Atlético and Dortmund. It's possible.
The call to Barcelona fans is made alone but president Joan Laporta wanted to give it voice and images. In the morning he crossed the training ground of the sports city as if it were his own to hug Xavi, knowing that the moment was captured by the cameras. In the afternoon, TV3 got a few words from him leaving the Conde de Godó Trophy that is being disputed these days. “Montjuïc has to be a pressure cooker. The players are going to give their all and we culés have to support them because they deserve it. “They made history by winning the League last year and they can repeat by winning the Champions League this season.” In the midst of a high, Laporta suggested that Xavi Hernández's decision to leave the club this summer is amendable. “We will discuss this issue at the end of the season. Xavi spoke out, but I understand that everything can be reviewed. We will have time to talk about that,” he assured.
Whether next season continues or not, Xavi is more occupied than ever with the present, mainly with the eleven that will take to the pitch tonight. The absences of Sergi Roberto and Christensen give all the options to the most aggressive bet, which De Jong and Pedri represent as midfielders and Gündogan where he likes it most, close to the forwards. Fermín has options but it is possible that he will give the canary some air after an hour of play. Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha will coincide up front, with João Félix, much improved in his recent performances, attentive as the first replacement. In defense there are no doubts: ahead of the returned Ter Stegen, Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí and Cancelo will play from right to left.
PSG will be different tonight tactically. Not only because of the return of Achraf Hakimi to the right side after serving a suspension, but because the pieces and their disposition will vary up front. Asensio's failed experiment as a false nine can give way to a more focused Dembélé. The Frenchman will be very poorly received in Barcelona, presumably more so than Mbappé, who in principle will repeat on the left. Barça wants to keep the ball to prevent the opponent from running. Are two bad Mbappé games in a row possible? Kounde and Araújo have the answer tonight.
The match has generated a lot of expectation (522 accredited journalists from 146 media outlets will work in the stadium) and extraordinary security measures. PSG will arrive with 2,600 fans, of which around 400 radicals will be controlled by the Mossos from the moment they land.
