Xavi says PSG still favored to reach semis despite Barca win
Despite the first leg win, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are still favored to reach the Champions League semifinals.
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PSG still favored to reach semis
Raphina’s brace and Andreas Christensen’s game-winning header gave Barcelona the edge heading back to Spain for the second leg.
Despite the win at Parc de Princes, Xavi said that PSG are still favored to advance the semis.
“PSG are still the favourites,” Xavi said in his postgame news conference. “It will be very difficult to win in Barcelona.”
The Catalan club produced great defense against PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe, who barely had any impact on the game.
“Today, we played well because we were united defensively. I’m very proud, everything worked well. We have to improve our concentration in the first minutes of the second half. We managed to mature and recover from a match that became very difficult.”
Barcelona hope to reach their first Champions League semifinal since 2019.
“I hope the ghosts have died,” Xavi added. “We’ve gone through difficult years in the Champions League recently. This win shows that Barça are still alive.”
PSG ready for war
Meanwhile, PSG manager Luis Enrique does not believe that Barcelona are the favorites to win at home.
Enrique added that France capital will prepare for a “war” in Spain.
“We are going to go to Barcelona to fight a war,” he said.
“I never see the opposition as favourites, whoever they are. In top-level competition, that’s how I see it. And I will continue to believe that we will go to Barcelona to win the game.
“I repeat. We could have won this game. [Football] is about small details and let’s hope that the small details go our way in the second leg.”
