Barça will be taking a one-goal lead into the second leg of their Champions League quarter final with Paris Saint Germain, and what’s more, the theoretically harder part is done and the next 90 minutes will be played out with home advantage. PSG are such a good side that it would be wise not too get too excited yet, but Culers can be quietly confident about their team’s chances of progressing to the last four.
Win away, win the tie
On 39 of the 41 occasions when Barça have won away from home in a European first leg, they have ultimately advanced to the next round. And when it comes to the European Cup, or Champions League as it is known now, Barça has a perfect record of 13 out of 13.
On one of those occasions, the meeting with Sparta Prague in 1986, Barça actually lost the second leg at home, but still progressed on away goals.
Memorable examples include Leo Messi’s brace at the Bernabeu, which was followed by a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou to confirm passage into the final at the expense of the ‘old enemy’, and the spectacular 7-1 battering of Leverkusen in 2012. Four of the last five examples have involved returning victorious from England, while the other was against none other than PSG, the same side against which we are hoping history will repeat this year.
1959-60
AC Milan (2-0, 5-1)
1985-86
Sparta Prague (2-1, 0-1)
2005-06
Chelsea (2-1, 1-1)
AC Milan (1-0, 0-0)
2007-08
Celtic (3-2, 1-0)
Schalke 04 (1-0, 1-0)
2010-11
Real Madrid (2-0, 1-1)
2011-12
Bayer Leverkusen (3-1, 7-1)
2013-14
Manchester City (2-0, 2-1)
2014-15
Manchester City (2-1, 1-0)
2014-15
Paris Saint Germain (3-1, 2-0)
2015-16
Arsenal (2-0, 3-1)
2018-19
Manchester United (1-0, 3-0)
History against PSG
And in stark contrast, PSG will be hoping to do something they have never managed before. There have been six previous instances when the French side lost the first leg of a European tie at home, and on the grand total of zero occasions have they ultimately gone on to progress.
So if previous stats are anything to go by, Barça have everything in their favour and more going into Tuesday’s match!
