PSG get reinforcements but face an uphill battle against Barcelona in UCL second leg
Of all the challenges facing Paris St Germain ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final return leg at Barcelona, the biggest is to actually believe they can achieve something great at the Nou Camp.
At least that is the opinion of midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
PSG lost 3-1 to Barca last week in France but will be bolstered by the return of midfielder Marco Verratti and former Barca striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from suspension.
"We have to go to the Camp Nou without a complex and try everything to achieve the feat," Matuidi told L'Equipe.
"We will have to show a lot of heart and we will also have to defend very well, something that we failed to do in the first leg."
Laurent Blanc's men are without captain Thiago Silva, who failed a late fitness test and has remained in Paris, as well as the injured Thiago Motta and suspended Serge Aurier.
The Brazilian defender missed Saturday's 3-1 triumph at Nice, which kept PSG second in the Ligue 1 standings, and has not recovered from a thigh injury he picked up against Barca in the first meeting.
Barca coach Luis Enrique, whose side is in last eight of the competition for a record eighth consecutive season, says his team's passage to the semi-finals is not guaranteed.
"We need another big game in order to qualify," he said. "We have an advantage but nothing is decided.
"The biggest challenge for us is that we face a strong rival whose only option is to win."
Luis Enrique will be hoping to celebrate his 50th match in charge of Barca by clinching a 42nd win.
The former Spain international is the only Barcelona coach to have claimed that many victories in his first 50 games.
"We approach this game with the same mentality as the first leg," Luis Enrique said. "We want to win.
"Ibrahimovic is one of the best centre-forwards in the world and it will be an extra motivation for us to stop him."
Lionel Messi, who scored his 400th goal for Barca in Saturday's 2-0 triumph over Valencia to keep his team two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division, will play alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar in attack.
"Leo is in great form," Luis Enrique said. "To have reached 400 goals is unique, unrepeatable."
Barca also have Suarez in top shape.
Suarez struck twice against PSG to increase his Champions League tally to six goals and scored his team's opener against Valencia.
"I feel I am helping the team with goals and assists," the Uruguay forward said.
PSG have already beaten Barca this season, a 3-2 win in Paris in the group stages back in September.
"Our biggest challenge is complacency," Suarez said. "PSG have top players capable of turning around the tie."
