Kylian Mbappé confirmed his readiness as Paris Saint-Germain readies to host Barcelona in the opening leg of their Champions League quarterfinal this week. The 25-year-old, who has amassed 13 trophies with PSG, including five Ligue 1 titles, is determined to achieve Champions League glory, a goal that has eluded him thus far.
Speculation suggests he may move to Real Madrid once his PSG contract ends this summer. “It’s a crucial phase of the season for top-level players,” Mbappé emphasized to Telefoot before Wednesday’s showdown at the Parc des Princes. “I’m prepared, and as always, I won’t retreat. This period is significant each year, offering insights into the season’s trajectory by April’s end.” “Observing the team’s current momentum, I’m confident that we’ll give our all. Whatever happens next, it’s in the hands of a higher power.”
Mbappé impressive performance, including a memorable hat trick at Spotify Camp Nou, during PSG’s last encounter with Barcelona in the 2021 Champions League, led to a 5-2 aggregate victory.
This win served as redemption for PSG following their defeat to Barcelona in 2017, when the Catalan side, then under the management of PSG’s current coach Luis Enrique, staged an astonishing comeback, winning the second leg 6-1 after a 4-0 loss in Paris.
These matchups have fueled a growing rivalry between the two European powerhouses, further intensified by Neymar’s record-breaking transfer to PSG and Messi’s subsequent move to the Ligue 1 club. Amidst this backdrop, PSG’s ultras have called on supporters to create a daunting atmosphere for Barcelona in the upcoming match on Wednesday.
“We must establish a hostile environment for the detestable Barça, who have often benefited from referee decisions,” stated the Collectif Ultras Paris in a release on Sunday. “It’s our responsibility to turn [the Parc des Princes] into an intimidating fortress. Let’s make them tremble.”
According to police sources cited by ESPN, a special security plan has been developed for the second leg in Barcelona next Tuesday, expecting a significant presence of PSG supporters in the city for a match classified as high risk.
Barcelona’s relocation to the Olympic Stadium during the renovation of Camp Nou has posed challenges in managing large groups of supporters, with 16 police officers injured during the Blaugrana’s previous match against Napoli in the last round.
Meanwhile, Barcelona is still assessing the fitness of several key players ahead of Wednesday’s match. Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri are all being evaluated, while Gavi and Alejandro Balde remain unavailable. In contrast, PSG will be missing Achraf Hakimi for the first leg due to a one-game suspension for accumulated yellow cards.
Barcelona, currently trailing LaLiga leaders Real Madrid by eight points domestically, are vying for their sixth Champions League title, while PSG, holding a comfortable 10-point lead in Ligue 1, are seeking their first-ever triumph in the competition. The winners of this tie will go on to face either Atlético Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals.
ALSO READ:
- Premier League Superiority: Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City
- Arsenal beats Porto on penalties, advances to quarterfinals
- Lamine Yamal: Next Youngest UEFA Champions League Scorer?
