Much of Barcelona’s aspirations this season go through Paris. The tie against PSG is the door to a Champions League semi-final, a territory that Barça has not set foot in since 2019. Thanks to the schedule of the Cup final, Barça can now concentrate on the first leg of that match, the visit to the fiefdom of the Parisians. There is more than a week left but Xavi Hernández is already clear about the game plan he wants and the players he needs to carry it out. The coach has practically decided on the eleven for the night of April 10 at the Parc des Princes and it is no coincidence that it is the same one that beat Napoli in Montjuïc in the round of 16 with only one variation: the entry of Sergi Roberto for Fermín, who He played at the start and opened the scoring.

If there are no setbacks, Barcelona will start at the Parc des Princes with Ter Stegen between the posts and a defense with Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsi and Cancelo. Christensen, captain Sergi Roberto and Gündogan will form the midfield while the wings will be for Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, escorting Lewandowski. It is a lineup that combines experience, good form, a dose of local people and players who have given their all in important games. They have all earned the coach’s trust with his latest performances.

The idea right now is not to force the return of Frenkie de Jong and Pedri. The Dutchman and the Canarian are two fundamental footballers but they have not played an official match for more than a month. Both were injured on March 3 in San Mamés. De Jong suffered a sprain to his right ankle and Pedri, who is already doing field work, damaged the rectus femoris of his right thigh. The good streak of results – 11 games without losing – and the good moments of play invite continuity. The context is not an emergency.

It would be a different story if, before the Paris game, Barcelona played in the League in Cádiz (it will be on Saturday, April 13) and the two midfielders could have minutes and get into rhythm before the Champions League after being discharged, something that does not happen. Therefore, we will work thinking that they will enter the second half since both are very safe with the ball at their feet and the script forces us not to lose our heads, taking into account the return in Barcelona. Xavi remembers well how Luis Enrique – now on the PSG bench – used him precisely like that in 2015 in that same scenario. The player from Terrassa entered the second half with a 0-1 lead and Barça left the Parque de los Príncipes with a valuable 1-3 lead.

Only Ter Stegen remains from that match. The German goalkeeper has only conceded more than one goal in the first (Granada, 3-3) of the nine games he has played since his reappearance.

Koundé’s level has risen a lot since February, just when the centre-back pair Araújo and Cubarsí, already making their debut with Spain, have established themselves. The two are winners of duels and will have to stop Mbappé’s attacks. On the left Cancelo, a man of big games, will face an old acquaintance like Ousmane Dembélé.

To give stability to the team with this work that is as solid as it is invisible, Christensen is trusted, despite the fact that the Dane has missed two games (Atlético and Las Palmas) due to his Achilles discomfort. Next to him will be Sergi Roberto, a footballer with a lot of tactical order and an unfortunate memory for PSG since he was the hero of the 2017 comeback by scoring 1-6. The captain’s presence will allow Gündogan to step forward and provide his light between the lines, in the area where he was signed to make a difference.

On the left wing, Raphinha’s intensity guarantees him the position. It will be a game of working, pressing, helping Cancelo but also threatening to uncheck. The one in Paris will be the 41st meeting of Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal this season. Both the Pole, 35 years old, and the youth player, 16, will benefit from these days of rest. Number nine has the thrill of knowing that he will be in the Euro Cup and is the scoring reference (he scored in both games against Naples and at the Metropolitano). The one from Rocafonda needs to be fresh and inspired. When they get tired, João Félix, Fermín and Ferran Torres await their moment in a match with 5 substitutions.