Menzi Magubane
Barcelona’s home record lately against the giants of European football makes for unpleasant reading.
In August, in the UEFA Champions League, they were humiliated by Bayern Munich 8-2 in the quarter-final.
In this season’s group stages on Tuesday they were handed a 3-0 spanking by Juventus. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to ensure the Italians finished on top of Group G.
On Monday, when the Champions League round of 16 draw was conducted in Nyon, Switzerland, Barca were drawn with yet another big team in Europe.
They were given Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a two-leg match that is dubbed as “Lionel Messi versus Neymar”. The first leg will see Neymar returning to Camp Nou, where he won lots of trophies with Messi.
After the draw Neymar wrote to Messi on his instagram page: “We will see each other soon, my friend.”
Last season Neymar helped PSG to reach their first ever Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
Barca’s defensive frailties should worry coach Ronald Koeman. In three recent matches they conceded 14 goals and scored only three.
PSG has a sharp front line led by Neymar and Kylian Mbappe; and without a doubt they will fancy their chances against the weak Barca defence.
Other Champions League round of 16:
Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City; Lazio vs Bayern Munich; Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea; RB Leipzig vs Liverpool; Porto vs Juventus; Sevilla vs Borussia Dortmund; Atalanta vs Real Madrid.
Picture source: @rugal
