The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 matchup between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain is a little over a month away. However, it’s not stopping the media from discussing it, even if it upsets the other fanbase.
According to Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Paris Fans), Barça drawing the capital club in the knockout stage is a good thing. They add that the La Liga club avoided Liverpool FC and FC Bayern Munich, two teams that handed Barça embarrassing defeats.
“PSG are the best opponents they could shoot. If the French team can eliminate them? Of course. But let’s see the positive side. They avoided the strongest opponents: Bayern Munich and Liverpool. They also avoided the one everyone wanted: Borussia Dortmund,” Mundo Deportivo wrote.
“We know what happened every time we underestimated an opponent. Barça-PSG will be the most interesting poster with the Messi-Neymar duel. The show is guaranteed, and that motivates.”
Mundo Deportivo also touches on the off the pitch angle that the matchup between Barça-PSG will bring, primarily concerning Lionel Messi’s future. After Neymar Jr. publicly stated that he’d like to play with his former Barça, speculation ensued about whether or not the 33-year-old would head to the French capital.
“We have already noted two calendar dates: February 16 and March 10, the home and away matches against PSG. These are perhaps two key dates and not just to continue in the Champions League. Messi will have already spoken with the new president,” Mundo Deportivo wrote. “
“We all know that with his competitive character, he will surely make a decision according to the evolution of the team. Barça-PSG will be more than a round of 16 because it can be decisive for the future of Leo Messi.”
There’s no denying with the history these two clubs have on and off the pitch that there will be plenty of fireworks for supporters and various media outlets to discuss.
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