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UCL Preview: Barcelona, Bayern look to deliver at home in second legs

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By COLE KELLOGG

One UEFA Champions League favorite will look to build on an impressive quarterfinal first leg victory, while another will try to erase the memories of a first-leg debacle as Barcelona and Bayern Munich  take the field today in a pair of key home deciders.

Barcelona faces Paris St. Germain the Camp Nou tonight as they try to build on last week’s impressive 3-1 win in Paris. That match saw Luis Suarez embarrass David Luiz with two nutmegs on the way to a pair of fantastic goals.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be available to make an impact, as he was suspended for the first leg after his red card against Chelsea. Ibrahimovic has not been on the pitch for 10 days, when he scored a brace against Bastia in the French Coupe de la Ligue. Also back for the French champions is Marco Verratti.

Missing for the French side, however, will be Brazilian captain Thiago Silva, who is still recovering from a thigh injury that took him out of the first leg early in the first half in Paris.

After shocking the world with a 3-1 home result against Bayern Munich last week, FC Porto will now have to go to Allianz Arena to try and push through to the semi-finals of the UEFA  Champions League.

The German powerhouse will be without several key members, including David Alaba, Javi Martinez, and Arjen Robben. Key leaders Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger are also doubtful to contribute. The Portugese side are missing Alex Sandro and Danilo through suspension and Cristian Tello with a thigh problem.

A record will be broken no matter what the result of the FC Porto at Bayern Munich matchup. Porto are still unbeaten in the competition this season. Bayern, on the other hand, have handily won all four of their home matches in the Champions League this season.

What do you think will happen tonight? Who do you expect to move on to the semi-finals?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. If the mighty Bayern Munich cannot score 2 goals at home and keep a clean sheet with the ‘best goalkeeper on the planet, then they don’t deserve to to be in the conversations as one of the worlds best teams. And Guardiola will deserve to be sacked. With that said, I think Bayern can pull through.

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