Barcelona vs PSG: Well-oiled machines

PSG,who saw off Valencia in the last 16,believe however that this could be a turning point in their climb to the peak of the European game.

The wealthy French club,under experienced coach Carlo Ancelotti,are on course for their first domestic title for 18 years as well as being in the last eight of the Champions League after an 18-year absence. They go into Tuesday’s tie,however,as underdogs for the first time this season – and will do well to survive it.

Qatari fund QSI has set PSG a tough agenda of winning the Champions League within five years,having bought the club last year and poured huge amounts of money into transfers to build a team made for Europe.

Centre back Thiago Silva,front man Zlatan Ibrahimovic and forward Ezequiel Lavezzi,who all signed last year,have been key in helping PSG reach this stage,and at least they have a good omen on their side.

The last time they reached the quarter-finals in 1995,they beat Barcelona but much has changed since. PSG have been absent while Barcelona have been crowned European champions three times.

Latest signing David Beckham,who joined them on a five-month deal in January,believes they can meet these expectations. “This club have high aspirations. We want to go as far as we can in all competitions,” the former England captain said on Friday. PSG’s chances were boosted when Ibrahimovic was freed to face his former club after the two-match ban imposed following his dismissal at Valencia was halved.

VILANOVA RETURNS

Ibrahimovic had a mixed year-long spell at Barca but said facing them again would not pose any problems for him. “I have already played against Barcelona since I left and the game will be special for everybody here,” said the Swede,who faced his former team mates in the group stage with AC Milan in 2011.While PSG will bank on Ancelotti’s tactical expertise,his Barcelona counterpart Tito Vilanova could return to the dugout for the first time after two months in New York receiving cancer treatment during which his assistant Jordi Roura has been in charge.

Live Ten action plus 0015 hours Juventus,Bayern clash Juventus will enter Tuesday’s heavyweight clash with Bayern Munich with smiles on their faces,an 18-match unbeaten record in Europe behind them and no concerns about the Bavarians’ nine-goal demolition of Hamburg.

Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg is a match where the Champions League can live up to its hype,with teams who have dominated the season in Germany and Italy respectively and share 50 domestic titles between them.

Bayern,who won 4-1 in Turin when the teams last met in the 2009/10 season,have a 20-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and produced their most emphatic win of the season on Saturday when they flattened Hamburg 9-2.They need two more points from six games to wrap up their 23rd German league title.

Italian champions Juventus come into the game with a nine-point lead in the Serie A and are well on course for a 29th title. “We’ll head to Munich with a spring in our step knowing that we’ve done our job on the domestic front,” said Juventus coach Antonio Conte after his side won 2-1 away to bitter rivals Inter Milan on Saturday. “We’ll head there to keep alive our dream and to test our mettle in the European arena,and we’ll do it with a smile and no fear,” he said.

Back in the quarter-finals after a seven-year wait,Juventus have been happy to accept the underdogs’ role,saying they cannot match the brash Bavarians’ spending power. Yet,in European terms,they have looked more impressive than their opponents.

Although Bayern are a fearsome prospect on their day,they are prone to sudden lapses,especially at the Allianz Arena which hosts the first leg. They lost last season’s Champions League final at their own stadium,beaten on penalties by Chelsea after a 1-1 draw,and were knocked out by Inter Milan at home two seasons ago,losing 3-2 in front of their own fans after winning the away leg 1-0.

Live Ten sports 0015 hours Keep Becks in Paris: PSG boss

Paris: Paris St Germain chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi wants former England captain David Beckham to extend his contract with the French club for another year.

“We are going to talk with him about it. But frankly,we really want to keep him with us next season,” al-Khelaifi told French sports daily L’Equipe on Monday.

Beckham,37,joined the wealthy French side as a free agent in January on a five-month deal and said he was considering a second season at the capital club.

“He’s fantastic,on and off the pitch. Signing David has been one of my best decisions,” al-Khelaifi said. “He’s outstanding as a person,as a player,as an ambassador. He has really made an impact in this squad. Everybody loves him.”

Beckham has started once in five league appearances so far with PSG,who top the Ligue 1 table seven points clear of second-placed Olympique Marseille with eight games left.