Barcelona president confident about PSG clash, makes bold prediction about Mbappe

Barcelona will take on PSG later tonight, and the hype is as unparalleled as ever. This is the Catalans’ first quarter-final appearance since the infamous thrashing against Bayern Munich in 2020.

Having met multiple times in the 2010s, including the 6-1 ‘remontada’ game, Barça have gotten the better of the Parsian side more often than not, and Joan Laporta, for one, believes history will repeat itself.

Who will take on the Mbappe test?

According to Adrian Sanchez, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has full faith in his team to get over the line and come out as victors from this quarter-final clash.

So much so, he believes Barcelona will keep Kylian Mbappe quiet, and has told his friends and entourage, “Araujo will pocket Mbappe in the tie.”

Araujo could single-handedly be the difference tonight. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)

Depending on how PSG line up, Mbappe could be playing as a left-winger, or closer to the centre as a striker. Either way, the right-back and right-centre-back will have the most vs him.

Jules Kounde has been doing exceedingly well as a right-back over the last few weeks, and could start there, with Araujo as a centre-back. However, Xavi could use the Vinicius Jr formula and play the Uruguayan on the right side.

Don’t forget Dembele

PSG have more than one potent attacker in their team, with Ousmane Dembele running the show on the right-wing. While he has barely any goals to his name, he has been creating chances with ease, and has racked up eight assists in the league this season.

Joao Cancelo is expected to start opposite him as the left-back, and will need all the help he can get to stop the Frenchman.

Raphinha will likely get the nod as a left-winger, and his defensive work-rate will be key to double team Dembele on the flank, with one of Frenkie de Jong or Sergi Roberto starting that side of the midfield.