Following Friday’s draw, Paris Saint-Germain will face FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. It’s the first time they’ve met in the knockout stage since 2021.
Ahead of the first leg, Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal spoke about the mindset he and the team have heading into the matchup against the Ligue 1 giants. Despite being a teenager, the forward has confidence heading into the clash.
“When you reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League, all opponents are tough,” Yamal said (h/t SPORT). “We will play against PSG just like we did against Napoli and will look to advance to the next round. We will play as always, as we know how to do it, with our style of play.”
🎙️ Lamine Yamal.
🗣️: “When you reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, all opponents are tough. We will play against PSG just like we did against Napoli and will look to advance to the next round. We will play as always, as we know how to do it, with our style of… pic.twitter.com/6TvAAh1ty6
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) March 16, 2024
The winner of this matchup will face either Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund, so a victory will have PSG or Barcelona on a clear path to the final in London. Furthermore, the two-leg tie will see PSG manager Luis Enrique face his former club, and it also marks the return of Ousmane Dembélé.
Dembélé is probably still close with teammates and aware of the 26-year-old’s abilities. Speaking to TV3, Robert Lewandowski highlighted that this game could bring out the best in the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, who will be extra motivated.