Barcelona vs PSG Predictions

• Barcelona have won seven of their last eight competitive games.
• PSG have lost four of their last five meetings with Barcelona.
• Both teams have scored in six of the eight previous ties between Barcelona and PSG.
• Lionel Messi has scored nine goals in his last nine competitive appearances.

Messi set to punish Parisiens

The Camp Nou hosts the standout fixture of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday as PSG visit Barcelona for the first leg and, considering there have been 32 goals scored in the previous eight meetings between these sides, the neutrals could be in for a treat.

The last of these clashes was a Barcelona’s spectacular 6-1 thrashing of the Parisiens in 2017 and, while we’re not predicting quite the same level of domination, it could be a similarly enjoyable night for the Catalan side.

Barca returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion at the weekend as they demolished Alaves 5-1 to make it seven wins from their last eight. As has so often been the case over the past 15 years it was Lionel Messi driving his team forward. The Barca talisman has scored 19 goals in 28 competitive appearances this season and has found the net nine times in his last nine outings, so he looks a great option in the anytime goalscorer market.

Neymar absence to hit visitors hard

Unfortunately for PSG, they will visit the Camp Nou without one of their major attackers. Former Barcelona man Neymar has been ruled out of a return to his former club but, with Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi set to start, PSG aren’t exactly devoid of attacking quality.

Indeed, PSG have found the net in 29 of their last 31 competitive games and face a Barcelona defence that have conceded in each of their last six. Both teams have scored in six of the eight meetings between these sides, so we can expect goals at both ends again on Tuesday.

PSG face more Camp Nou woes

Neymar’s absence will be a big blow for the visitors though and PSG’s record against Barca won’t provide much confidence. They have lost four of their last five meetings, so backing a Barcelona win and both teams to score looks good value.

Barcelona have averaged 2.63 goals per game over their last eight ties and have beaten PSG 3-1 in two of the last five meetings, so that’s our pick for a correct score prediction.

Barcelona injuries and team news

Miralem Pjanic and Sergino Dest both recovered from injury to play at the weekend but the likes of Phillipe Coutinho, Martin Braithwaite, Ansu Fati and Gerard Pique are still sidelined.

PSG injuries and team news

Neymar and Angel Di Maria are huge misses for the hosts and join Juan Bernat and Timothee Pembele on the sidelines, while Marco Verratti, Rafinha and Colin Dagba are all doubts.