Classic Barca-PSG Clash Highlights CL Return in Most Challenging Year

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TUESday, FEBRUaRy 16, 2021

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Classic Barca-PSG clash highlights CL return in most challenging year

DPA

Berlin

Faltering Liverpool

The coronavirus Champions League resumes this midweek

seek inspiration

with mouth-watering last 16 ﬁrst leg contests on the pitch coming after further logistical challenges in hosting the pancontinental competition amid the global pandemic.

DPA

london

the last few weeks,” he told the club’s website.
“We’ve been playing well
LIveRPOOL will be hoping a but not getting the results so change of scenery can get their it’s about turning those perforseason back on track when mances into results and that’s they face RB Leipzig in the first probably what we need to look leg of their Champions League at most,” he said. last 16 clash on Tuesday.
In other years Tuesday’s headline encounter between Barcelona and Paris SaintGermain, a repeat of their remarkable tie at the same stage in 2017, would hog headlines.
Instead the wisdom of playing at all is being questioned by some as three matches in the first knock-out round had to be moved to neutral venues because of coronavirus rules.
The first of those is also on
Tuesday when RB Leipzig host 2019 winners Liverpool in Budapest as German authorities won’t let Juergen Klopp’s side into the country.
Three successive defeats has

After three straight

left Liverpool out of the Premier

Premier League defeats,

League title race, a far cry from

Liverpool will hope the Champions League brings a change in fortune.

last season when they romped to their ﬁrst title in 30 years.
Injuries to key players, including virgil van Dijk, Joe

Gomez and Joel Matip, have

The tie with Leipzig is be-

taken their toll on the side, ing played in Budapest and with the balance of the team Alexander-Arnold said the upset by midﬁelders being switch to european competi-

moved into the back line.

tion could inspire them. “In

Klopp could use new sign- situations like this you want ing Ozan Kabak in defence, the opportunity to put it right while Nat Phillips could also as soon as possible,” he said. come in, which would allow

Wednesday has Porto

v

Juventus and Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund while reigning

champions Bayern Munich (From L to R) Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, Italian midfielder Alessandro Florenzi, Italian midfielder Marco Verratti, have another week off before French forward Kylian Mbappe and French defender Presnel Kimpembe attend a training session at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on

captain Jordan henderson to Klopp dismisses fears

move back into midﬁeld.

Meanwhile, Liverpool man-

meeting Lazio.

Monday, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 ﬁrst leg match against FC Barcelona. (AFP)

Much will depend on the ﬁt- ager Juergen Klopp dismissed ness of Fabinho, who missed the suggestions that he has had weekend defeat at Leicester, but enough of the job, insisting he the club has been keen to stress is embracing the challenge of this week that they will pull to- his ﬁrst sticky patch since he
Barcelona have taken time to click under new coach Ronald Koeman and the domestic title is already beyond them.
But Lionel Messi is regaining form and Gerard Pique’s potentially quicker than expected return from injury to fortify a leaky defence has given them a boost.

PSG will be out for revenge after seeing a 4-0 first leg home lead sensationally overturned 6-1 in Spain four years ago.

gether to regain top form.

took over at Anﬁeld in 2015.

“It’s been a tough period

A banner was placed out-

for many reasons,” striker Mo side the club’s stadium over benches after clashing on Ital- Salah said on social media. ian pitches in the six seasons “We are champions and their manager. the Portuguese played with we will fight like champions, “I’m okay,” he told a press Lazio, Parma and Inter Milan. until the very end. We will not conference on Monday. “We
Borussia Dortmund allow this season to be defined had a training session before, the weekend in support of
PSG will be out for revenge after seeing a 4-0 first leg home lead sensationally overturned 6-1 in Spain four years ago.
On that occasion Neymar orchestrated the Barca comeback but a groin injury rules him out of a first meeting against his former side. meanwhile have won just by the recent results we’ve we had an analysis meeting once in their last six domes- had. That is my promise to all and both were really positive tically to lose touch with of you.” Full back Trent Alex- and I am preparing to flying the Bundesliga Champions ander Arnold said he feels the to hungary for the for the first League spots and interim recent results do not reflect time in my life. We are absocoach edin Terzic is in des- the performances. perate need of improvement. “everyone talks about a lutely okay and ready to go.

Today’s Matches

Barcelona v

Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino with Paris

“The banner was nice, I

Paris coach Mauricio Po- Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe on Monday. (AFP)

Dortmund’s visit to Seville bad spell and a dip in form don’t feel that I need special starts a crucial eight-day run and stuff, but I feel person- support in this moment but which includes a derby visit ally we’ve performed well in it’s nice. I don’t need a break.” to Schalke and German Cup chettino, appointed in Decem-

Paris Saint-Germain
(11pm)

ber, believes last year’s semi-

German politician and season’s run to the last four.

“We know that we need a when faced with a “team that’s said: “All of us are supposed top performance against Livﬁnalists can go for it again even health expert Karl Lauterbach, quarter-ﬁnal trip to Borussia

RB Leipzig v Liverpool
(11pm)

built to win,” like Barcelona.

not to travel ... and I don’t un- erpool,” Nagelsmann said.

Moenchengladbach.

“Of course we need some derstand why we should be “We want to give our all in our

“We’re on the road to re-

clear structures and ideas on making an exception for an ‘home tie’ in Budapest and put

covery,” insisted Mats hum-

how to attack and how to stop professional circus.”

ourselves in a good position for

mels after Saturday’s 2-2 draw

Barcelona getting at us,” he

Lars Klingbeil, secretary- the second leg.”

Ronaldo returns to his home with hoffenheim. “We want to

told UeFA.com. “But we al- general of Lauterbach’s Social

Liverpool will check on the country while Juve’s Brazilian play in a much more active and

ways trust in the players to Democrats (SPD) agreed, tell- ﬁtness of Fabinho before nam- defenders Alex Sandro and Da- aggressive way off the ball.

do their work in the best way ing broadcasters RTL/ntv: “It ing their line-up after the Bra- nilo tackle their former club.

“Such things don’t happen

“This defeat will not dis- overnight. We’re working on
Leipzig v Liverpool, “was post- feat at Leicester which all but pirit us. Let’s hold our head this in training, and I’m 100 ended their hopes of retaining up and think about the Cham- per cent sure that you will see it possible and get a positive out- would be a stronger signal,” if zilian missed the weekend decome.”
Pochettino himself has poned or cancelled.

recovered from Covid-19 and

“It can be dispensed with the Premier League.

pions League,” Ronaldo wrote before the season is out.”

said his experience “taught at this time. The competition me to become a better person must not come ﬁrst,” he said.

There is also a doubt over on Instagram after a 1-0 loss

Sevilla are without winger

James Milner, who came off at Napoli on Saturday held the Lucas Ocampos who has an an-

But the game will go on with a hamstring issue. Bianconeri eight points off the kle injury and left back Marcos

...(and) how to be more respon-

sible while enjoying what we giving youthful Leipzig coach

Porto welcome Juventus Serie A top.

Acuna is also expected to miss RB Leipzig players including German goalkeeper Philipp Tschauner home coach Sergio Con- the game although coach Julen (centre) take part in a training session on the eve of the UEFA Cham-

do.” Whether or not football is Julian Nagelsmann a chance to for a clash between current nabeing responsible in playing at test himself against compatriot tional champions and two-time ceicao and Andrea Pirlo will Lopetegui hopes right back Je- pions League round of 16 ﬁrst leg match against Liverpool at the all is another matter. Klopp as he seeks to match last continental winners. Cristiano face each other from opposing sus Navas will be ﬁt. Puskas Arena in Budapest on Monday. (AFP)