Champions League: before PSG, how Barça got their heads straight

If the Spanish media dream of a new comeback of Barça against PSG after the qualification for the Copa del Rey final at the expense of Seville, it is of course a way to keep the flame alive.

But it is also a way of highlighting the flattering results of training at the bottom of the hole after the slap (1-4) received at Camp Nou on February 16.

On the Catalan side, we feared the consequences of this unexpected spanking.

It was not, since Ronald Koeman's men have not lost since their round of 16 first leg of the Champions League against PSG (three wins and one draw).

“The loss to PSG affected the team a lot and had a big impact.

It was a real comeback, especially from a sporting point of view, even if there were some beliefs with the previous results, says Juan Jimenez, journalist at AS and specialist in Barça.

It is a team that has tried to revive after the defeat against PSG, sportingly but also in the union of the locker room, and in terms of investment.

This is what led to yesterday's comeback (Wednesday) against Sevilla.

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In the wake of this fateful evening, Messi and his partners have indeed defeated Sevilla FC twice: at home in the semi-final second leg of the Copa del Rey (3-0 after) this Wednesday and a few days before on his lawn. in the league (2-0).

The Andalusians still occupy 4th place in La Liga.

Griezmann on the bench

If Barça has turned his head right side up, he owes it as often to his mentor, Leo Messi, still as effective (4 goals in 4 games), but also to the Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, decisive in the two games against to the Sevillians (1 goal in each confrontation).

The Dutch coach has also undertaken a tactical change in his last two games against Sevilla FC (passage to 3-5-2) with the Messi - Dembélé doublet at the forefront.

We do not know if this modification of the device is destined to last, but we already know that the French Antoine Griezmann has paid the price.

The 2018 world champion has indeed started the last three games on the substitutes' bench, which had never happened to him since his signing in Catalonia in the summer of 2019.

Dem-BOOM 💥🇫🇷 # BarçaSevilla pic.twitter.com/lCIQOLUUpS

- FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_fra) March 4, 2021

The bad news for the Catalans comes from the injury of Gerard Pique, forfeited for the next three weeks.

With Lenglet and Mingueza during the last two outings, the Spanish international had stabilized the completely overwhelmed Catalan defense against the Parisians.

His absence will undoubtedly count next Wednesday, even if, in the ranks of the team, we hardly harbor any illusions.

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“I believe that the return match against PSG is the third priority for Barça.

There is the final of the King's Cup looming, La Liga has been relaunched and decisive matches are coming, says Juan Jimenez.

The Champions League, everyone is dismissing it now.

The team is feeling good, and the period since early January has been pretty good overall.

But everyone is realistic about the double confrontation against PSG.

"