Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has said Paris Saint-Germain’s finances make them favourites in their Champions League quarterfinal tie after the Spanish and French champions were pitted against each other in Friday’s draw.
Barça will travel to Paris for the first leg on April 10 — before the return leg in Barcelona on April 16 — with the winners facing either Atlético Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals.
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It’s the Catalan club’s first Champions League quarterfinal since 2020, after they were eliminated in the group stage in 2022-23.
“It’s really difficult. [PSG] are one of the most difficult opponents we could have faced,” Xavi said in a news conference on Saturday ahead of Barça’s LaLiga game with Atlético. “But we’re excited. We have the return leg at home. It’s time to dream, and show that we can compete.
“Perhaps I’d say PSG are favourites. History aside, because we’ve won more Champions Leagues, financially right now it’s not the same, with what they’ve spent and what we’ve spent. But you have to perform on the pitch.”
Barça youngster Pau Cubarsí was called up by Spain coach Luis de la Fuente on Friday after starring for the first team in recent weeks.
That has led to speculation that the centre-back, 17, could be asked to feature for Spain at the Olympic Games in Paris, and then at Euro 2024.
Midfielder Pedri, now 21, played in both tournaments four years ago, and has suffered persistent injury problems since, with some blaming an excessive workload.
“We hope all that doesn’t happen again,” Xavi said.
“But we don’t have to be negative. We’re happy for him, he deserves to play with the national team. But as for the rest, I can’t say anything, because I can’t decide if he goes to the Olympic Games and the Euros, there’s still a lot of time left.”
Sunday’s game with Atletico will see Barça’s on-loan forward João Félix return to the Metropolitano, where he can expect a hostile reception from fans of his parent club.
Félix scored the only goal in a 1-0 Barça win when the two teams last met in LaLiga on Dec. 3.
“You have to show a lot of personality against Atletico,” Xavi said. “[Félix] should be important tomorrow. In the first game he played really well.
“Me personally, I always liked a hostile atmosphere. He has a strong character. He wants to show his talent, and tomorrow he and the team must show personality.”