Barcelona head into their midweek Champions League quarter-final
clash with PSG buoyed by a 5-0 win over Mallorca in La Liga on Saturday.
The
Catalans' European hopes were thought to be in jeopardy after star
Lionel Messi suffered a hamstring strain in last week's 2-2 first-leg
draw in Paris.
The Argentine should be back for Wednesday's return
leg at Camp Nou, but Barca certainly did not feel his absence in a
commanding display in Spain's top flight over the weekend.
Messi's
injury leaves the second leg shrouded with an air of mystery but
whether it will play into the hands of the visitors depends on how they
choose to exploit his absence.
The Spanish giants hold the edge
with their two crucial away goals but the manner in which PSG fought
back last week - when Blaise Matuidi netted an equaliser four minutes
from time - suggested there is still plenty of battle left in them.
Cesc
Fabregas replaced Messi on Saturday and eased anxieties with a neatly
taken hat-trick, while Alexis Sanchez chimed in with a double.
Barcelona
will also be buoyed by the returns of defender Eric Abidal from a liver
transplant and coach Tito Vilanova from cancer treatment.
PSG, meanwhile, continued their solid form in Ligue 1 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Stade Rennes.
Carlo
Ancelotti fielded a largely second string side in preparation for
Wednesday's clash, rotating Ezequiel Lavezzi, Javier Pastore and David
Beckham, who the Italian insisted would start against Barcelona.
Brazil
centre back Thiago Silva missed and is a doubt with a knee injury he
sustained in the first leg, while first-leg hero Matuidi is ruled out
through suspension.
Clement Chantome should come in to sit alongside Beckham in central midfield.
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