PSG-Barcelona is a match with unparalleled drama, sporting or non-sporting stories, rivalries but also a tactical clash between two coaches who know each other perfectly. To better understand the tactical keys to this meeting and Paris’ opponent, we interviewed a Frenchman playing in La Liga as well as Sonny Anderson, a former Barcelona player and BeIN Sports consultant, before the quarter-final of the Champions League, this Wednesday (9 p.m. ) at the Parc de Princes.
A Barça that can be taken under pressure
Danilo Pereira like Luis Enrique warned, PSG’s game plan will not focus on one player but above all on “keeping the ball, taking it away from Barça”. The Parisian coach and his staff surely watched their opponent’s last match, on March 30 against Las Palmas, and they certainly saw the Catalan problems in their short restart.
During the match against the Canaries, Luis Enrique’s men were surprised several times by the opposing pressure. “We managed to recover the ball very high and project ourselves quite quickly because they are easily takeable in short outings. Frankly, if Paris manages to press them well, they could do them harm, remembers Enzo Loiodice. Precisely, as their block is very stretched with very wide positioning, if they lose the ball, it leaves spaces which can be enormous. »
Vulnerable also in transition
Space precisely is the other solution to hurt Barça who, failing to have possession, does not hesitate to come and press high. Coming from behind, some opponents try to suck in the Catalan team to find themselves in one against one, or in two against two beyond the halfway line in transition situations.
“I’m sure that PSG will hurt them on counter-attacks because Barça’s defense is not that of last year which didn’t concede many goals. With fast players like Mbappé or Dembélé, it will be a plus for Paris,” explains former Barcelona player Sonny Anderson, who highlights the Catalan problems when it comes to “defending towards your goal”.
Paris will have to manage the spaces behind its back
For those who haven’t seen FC Barcelona for a long time, forget tiki taka, excessive possession. This team has somewhat changed its philosophy in quite considerable proportions. The Catalan club has a much more direct, vertical game, with rapid attacks which often punish teams who leave spaces behind.
“This team still has its identity of possession, of pressing but there is more variety with this idea of finding players who can launch. As we had a fairly high defense line, they tried to find players behind us: wingers and attacking midfielders who run towards the goal, often between our central defender and the full-back,” explains Enzo Loiodice, midfielder from Las Palmas whose team conceded a red card and a goal in this type of sequence.
Harmful absences
The hope is tiny but Barça supporters hope to see Pedri and De Jong. Centerpieces of the Barcelona squad, the two midfielders made the trip with their team without having the green light from their medical staff. For them, training on Tuesday as well as the tests on Wednesday morning will be decisive but it seems that there is little chance of seeing them start. “The team I have for this match is clear,” Xavi confided at a press conference as if he already had his starting XI in mind.
“Their absence is a hard blow. Pedri and De Jong are two players who like to keep the ball and play possession. In this kind of match it can do good,” says Sonny Anderson. “Without De Jong, they have less control, less calm, less break time. Gündogan tries to compensate but De Jong brings you something extra. It’s their metronome in fact,” adds Enzo Loiodice.
