DPA/Berlin
Barcelona defend a comfortable 3-1 lead at home in the Champions League quarter-finals this week while Bayern Munich and Monaco aim to overturn first leg deficits and the Madrid derby resumes scoreless.
Bayern, champions in 2013, are trying to recover from a 3-1 loss away to Porto tonight while at the same time Paris Saint-Germain attempt a mission impossible style recovery in Barcelona.
Tomorrow, holders Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet in the Bernabeu to continue the repeat of last season’s final after a goalless clash in the Calderon and Monaco try to fight back from 1-0 down to Juventus.
Despite their lead, Barca coach Luis Enrique will not rest any of his regulars, and there will be no over-confidence in the Camp Nou against PSG.
“It is true we have an important advantage, but this tie is by no means over,” right-back Dani Alves said.
“PSG are an excellent team, and they will have (Marco) Verratti and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic back from suspension - both are excellent players.
But while Barca hold the whip hand in their tie, Pep Guardiola must rally his squad against Porto to maintain Bayern’s dream of completing a second treble within three years.
A solid win at Hoffenheim on Saturday will have lifted the spirits, as will the news Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger are available after illness and injury.
But Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery remain headline absentees meaning Robert Lewandowski, Mario Goetze and Thomas Mueller could be relied upon to lead the attack.
“It’s a final,” Guardiola said. “We need a great performance. It’ll be tough, but we’ll give it a go. I have lots of faith in my players.”
A key for Bayern will be improving the defence which conceded three woeful goals in Portugal last week.
“We know it’s the biggest game of the season,” goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said. “Every one of us will do everything he can to make it a good performance.”
Porto arrive in Germany without suspended full-backs Danilo and Alex Sandro.
Real Madrid are missing three key players against neighbours Atletico in the shape of suspended left-back Marcelo and injury victims Luka Modric and Gareth Bale. Karim Benzema is expected to return after being rested against Malaga on Saturday.
Los Merengues lack fluency and rhythm without Modric, who was out from November to March with a previous injury. Without him, Real lost four important matches.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti is pondering whether to replace Modric with Asier Illaramendi or with Isco. Fabio Coentrao will come in for Marcelo.
“Marcelo, Modric and Bale are important players and we shall miss them,” Ancelotti said. “But this is the best squad that I have ever worked with, and the players who come in will be of very high quality.”
Atletico are unbeaten against Real in seven clashes this season, but will not go to the Bernabeu in a state of excessive confidence, captain Gabi said.
“Just because we have beaten them four times this season does not mean that we will necessarily win again. Every game is a different story in football. We will have to work as never before to come home with a good result.”
Jan Oblak—the penalty shoot-out hero in the round of 16 against Bayer Leverkusen—will continue in goal even though Miguel Angel Moya is close to full fitness. Midfielder Mario Suarez is suspended and will be replaced by veteran Tiago.
Leading the Atletico attack, looking for an important away goal, will be the in-form Antoin Griezmann, who is third in the Liga scoring chart with 20 goals, likely alongside the recalled Mario Mandzukic.
Juventus can focus on the Champions League in the knowledge that the Serie A title is virtually secure having beaten second-place Lazio 2-0 Saturday to get a lead of 15 points with seven games left.
They defend a 1-0 lead in Monaco looking to make their first semi-final in the competition since 2003.
“I am happy about what the boys have done, not only (Saturday) but throughout the season,” coach Massimiliano Allegri said.
“Wednesday with a good showing we can get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, we are having a great home season and we are in the final of the Italian Cup (against Lazio).
“I still haven’t decided my tactics for Wednesday night. It will be a good game from a technical standpoint, but different from the first. We’ll need to be at the races.”
Playing Today
Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain
Bayern Munich vs FC Porto
Playing Tomorrow
Monaco vs Juventus
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
(All games start 21:45 Qatar time)
(From Left) Barcelona's Dani Alves, Neymar, Gerard Pique, Mascherano, Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi attend a training session yesterday, ahead of tonight's clash against Paris Saint-Germain. (Reuters)
