#FCBPSG: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

As we welcome back the Champions League and two familiar foes of the modern era, we lament the news that UEFA wants to change the structure of the Champions League, growing the tournament from 32 teams to 36. To do this the format of eight groups of four teams is to be scrapped and instead, UEFA seek to adopt a 36-team “Swiss model” league, in which each club would play 10 games: five at home, five away. It sounds terrible and a recipe for overfamiliarity, a problem which we are already suffering from in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

PSG and Barca have faced each other 3 times (2 legged ties) in the past 7 seasons, with the Catalan's taking each match up - including the infamous La Remontada. In a devastating blow, former Barcelona hero Neymar is not going to be featuring for PSG and we miss out on a mouthwatering head to head duel between him and the eternally mercurial Lionel Messi.Nevertheless this is a tie which is not featuring two teams in their pomp facing off but two sides looking to lay down foundations for their next cycle of success.

Both teams will feature untested youngsters at the highest level of the game and this highlights where these teams are in terms of their evolutionary cycle and yet neither manager can afford to lose, as it will probably lead to them losing their job in the not too distant future (Poch may have just joined but the heat will be on regardless). Without further ado, let us dive into the recent fortunes and tactical set ups of both sides going into this first leg tie.

FC BARCELONA - MESSIDEPENDENCIA

Every season brings with it a new challenge and it would be fair to say that the club from Catalonia has had it's share of uncomfortable moments. For starters, their prized asset Lionel Messi wanted to leave the club. That ended in a chain reaction of events that led to a huge power tussle at the very top. A number of high profile players left for rival clubs. it all resulted, club president Josep Maria Bartemeu resigned. Elections for new club president were planned but postponed due to increased cases of COVID 19 infection within the country. Currently, interim president Carlos Tusquets is in charge of club proceedings

But that was not the only change. After their humbling defeat to eventual European champions Bayern Munchen, club manager Quique Setien left and there was a merry go round of rumors in the market. A number of high profile coaches were linked to the top job. In the end, it was former club legend Ronald Koeman who took over. He left his head managerial position at the Netherlands national side to take over the club from Catalonia.

And with his arrival starts the rebuilding phase. A phase where the club seeks to bring back the faith in football. A phase where the coach reintroduces trust within teammates. A phase where the club reassures the fans that they will be bringing back the glory days. Surely a phase that takes the club from transition to transformation (assumingly all for the greater good).

TACTICAL SET UP

Koeman brings with him a wealth of experience. His work at Ajax, Feyenoord and Southampton as well as his interim managerial duration at Valencia have been well received and applauded by critics all around Europe. But there have been some notable failures too such as his time at Everton. Needless to say he is a man of strong character and with his recent success with the Netherlands national side, it is clear that given the right resources he can succeed. Having said that the expectations at Barcelona are on another level entirely.

Tactically, Koeman likes to play his teams with a mix of pragmatism with technical freedom to the individual players. He has more often than not played a hybrid 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 depending on the talent at his disposal. While the system is zonal, players (especially the gifted ones) are allowed to roam in order to make space for an outlet to get a positive outcome. He likes mobile forwards that can join in the build up play.

Memphis Depay (who is also linked with the Catalan Club) in theory woud be Koeman's choice of forward but he had had to make do with none other than Lionel Messi operating as a False 9. Operating close to him is the Frenchman, Greizmann, who has a seen revival of fortunes despite playing as a make shift outside forward role. In midfield, the arrival of Miralem Pjanic means more competition and Frenkie De Jong looks to have taken that competition to whole new level with some great performances.

PEDRI IS DESTINED FOR GREATNESS

The youngsters have been the standout performers. Pedri in particular looks the real deal. His intelligent movement off the ball and excellent passing on it have been key to Barcelona's success in the La Liga. Comparisons to a certain Andres Iniesta, although unfair, are not going away. Messi looks happy too. He has been scoring for fun and that should come as a welcome relief to the fans who have been concerned over the Argentine's commitment. Dembele looks to be back to full fitness after his recent struggles with injuries as well.

PARIS NEVER SLEEPS

If Barcelona were a club in discomfort, things at Paris Saint German have not been smooth either. You would be forgiven to believe that the lucrative club from Paris would build positively from their successful campaign last season both domestically and in Europe. But such are the old traditions and idiosyncrasies in football that define and differentiate clubs from one another. And that is exactly the case in point with PSG.

Upon the arrival of Leonardo as Technical Director of football, there has been a slight change in mission of the Parisian club. The Brazilian likes to work a certain way and looks to oversee development at certain areas especially at times when COVID 19 pandemic has businesses all around the footballing world. Nevertheless, his relationship with Thomas Tuchel never got off to a healthy start. Disagreements over transfers and preseason preparations led to public spats and fallouts.

PSG did qualify for the round of 16 in the Champions League and credit to Tuchel they won their group despite a shaky start to their campaign. But everybody could witness that Tuchel's tenure was coming to an end especially when it became clear that a certain former player was available in the market. Just like Tuchel, he reached the final of the Champions League as well and he was in good terms with the Technical Director too. It was an opportunity that PSG just could not let go.

TACTICAL SETUP: ALL ABOUT THE SYSTEM

As witnessed in his tenures at his previous clubs, Espanol and Tottenham Hotspurs, Pochettino prefers systems over individuality. He is an advocate of Marcelo Bielsa's philosophy and uses similar principles for his teams. As a result, fans will witness relentless pressing, positional intelligence and quick transitions especially in attack. Much like Tuchel, his no nonsense persona would mean the players will have to be on their toes at all times. Trainings will be more intense.

The tactical side will be interesting to see. In the English Premier League, Pochettino's Spurs side played one of the most fluid systems. There were times when they played a hybrid 3-5-2 and sometimes they played a 4-4-2 diamond formation. But the key was that the formation would change during the game depending on the circumstances and opposition. Clearly, the attacking formation and defensive formation were never the same.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PAREDES' ROLE

Fans should expect something similar. There have been some notable variations already. Paredes looks to be a key man in Pochettino's set up as he plays the sweeper role in front of the center backs. A role that can be considered similar to the way Busquets played for Barcelona during their glory days but Paredes is much more mobile and he seems to have more freedom while passing the ball. Ahead of him, Verratti becomes a key component. Returning from injury, the Italian was sorely missed in PSG's campaign last season. He looks to be the playmaker that will control the tempo alongside Paredes.

As the spine of the team is being built, the more glamour players are given the task ahead. Mbappe playing as the outside support from the left to the front man has had to work harder and prove his worth to the Argentine manager. There have been good performances and some forgettable ones in this short span of time. The pressure is on. Neymar looked like he was getting back to his brilliant best but a bad tackle has pushed him out to the sidelines for 4 weeks. He will miss the clash against his former club from Catalonia.

Di Maria has been consistently top notch and is also rumoured to be out while Icardi is finally showing some sharpness in front of goal. Kimpembe and Marquinhos have been solid at the back despite some leaky mistakes. Without Neymar, Pochettino should go for a 4-3-3 system that might shift to a 3-4-3 with Paredes being the key cog in the tactical shift. Verratti's role will be all the more crucial in the middle of the park and much will depend on the outlets being provided by Mbappe and co.

THE PYTHAGORAS PERSPECTIVE

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Umtiti, Lenglet, Serginho Dest, J. Alba, F. De Jong, S. Busquets, Pedri, O. Dembele, L. Messi, A. Greizmann

PSG: Keylar Navas, P. Kimpembe, Marquinhos, A. Florenzi, Kurzawa, L. Paredes, I. Gueye, Verratti, K. Mbappe, M. Kean, Mauro Icardi

If history is anything to go by, then we are in for a treat. But clubs have a habit of learning from the past so we can expect a more cagey affair this time around. Out of the two, Barcelona look the more settled which could be the result of Koeman staying there longer in comparison to Pochettino who has only recently taken over at PSG. Injuries to key players (Neymar is injured) might have a say in the final outcome but the fact that this looks more like a chess game between two talented coaches cannot be ignored.

Barcelona will most probably have a bulk of the possession while PSG will be more dangerous on the counter. key area will be the midfield battle where it will be interesting to see who starts for both sides. Some key personnel can be expected such as De Jong and Busquets for Barcelona, Paredes and Verratti for PSG. Another interesting battle will be down the flank where Serginho dest will likely mark Mbappe.

There might not be too many goals in this. The situations that these clubs have been through suggests both coaches will not want to lose this game as opposed to winning big. And yet both teams have enough fire power to take them through to the next round at any given moment. Barcelona might have the edge here but only just. This is simply because Koeman has had more time with his squad and this Catalan side looks more settled as a result. Barcelona win by 2-1.