The Catalans trail the French titleholders by a point ahead of
their showdown in Catalunya, meaning that nothing less than
a win will suffice if they want to finish first
Luis Enrique believes Barcelona can feel confident of beating
Paris Saint-Germain and topping Champions League Group F.
The Catalans head into Wednesday's final group game at
Camp Nou knowing only a victory will do if they wish to
leapfrog the French champions into top spot.
Both teams have already qualified comfortably for the
knockout stages, but PSG sit a point clear of Barca at the
summit with just one game remaining - thanks in no small
part to their thrilling 3-2 win over Lionel Messi and Co. in
Paris in September.
But with the likes of Bayern Munich and Chelsea having
already secured top spot in their respective groups, Barca and
PSG know how important going through in first place could
prove ahead of next Monday's last-16 draw in Nyon.
And Blaugrana boss Luis Enrique is confident that his in-form
side - who have won their last seven matches in all
competitions - can claim the three points they require from
what promises to be a tense evening in Catalonia.
"I don't know if it is the best moment to play PSG, but it is
certainly a good one," said the 44-year-old, who will be
without suspended full-back Dani Alves.
"We are playing a rival which has made things difficult for us
with their quality, so the clash with PSG is a wonderful,
perfect match.
"We know that any winning result works for us, and we are
going to fight the same way that we have since the beginning
of the season."
In order to win Group F, however, Barca need to do
something no other team has managed this season.
Following their 2-1 win over Nantes on Saturday - and
Premier League leaders Chelsea's defeat at Newcastle United
earlier in the same day - PSG now stand as the only team in
any of Europe's five most major leagues not to have lost a
game in any competition this term.
Laurent Blanc's side have won 15 and drawn eight of their 23
matches thus far in 2014-15, with last weekend's victory
against Nantes coming courtesy of a brace from former Barca
striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
However, Blanc is well aware that PSG's unbeaten run is set
for its sternest examination yet, and has called on his players
to up their game ahead of their crucial trip to Spain.
"We're happy to have won [against Nantes], but we will need
to improve to get a win against Barcelona," the Frenchman,
who played for Barca for one season in the 1990s,
commented.
As is the case for any team visiting Camp Nou, keeping Messi
quiet will be key if PSG are to escape with their undefeated
record intact.
That will be easier said than done, though, as the Barca
talisman heads into the game in scintillating form even by his
own exalted standards.
Messi scored a third hat-trick in his last four appearances in
Barca's 5-1 rout of neighbours Espanyol on Sunday, and was
also on target in their defeat at Parc des Princes earlier in the
season.
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LAST FIVE MATCHES
Barcelona
W
W
W
W
W
07/12/2014
FCB
5 - 1
ESP
03/12/2014
HUE
0 - 4
FCB
30/11/2014
VAL
0 - 1
FCB
25/11/2014
APL
0 - 4
FCB
22/11/2014
FCB
5 - 1
SEV
PSG
W
D
W
W
W
06/12/2014
PSG
2 - 1
NAN
03/12/2014
LIL
1 - 1
PSG
29/11/2014
PSG
1 - 0
NIC
25/11/2014
PSG
3 - 1
AJX
21/11/2014
MET
2 - 3
PSG
HEAD TO HEAD
Barcelona
PSG
Wins
0
3
1
Wins
30/09/2014
PSG
3 - 2
Barcelona
10/04/2013
Barcelona
1 - 1
PSG
02/04/2013
PSG
2 - 2
Barcelona
04/08/2012
PSG
2 - 2
Barcelona