Champions League: PSG and Dortmund believe a remontada is on

On Tuesday 16 April we will learn the first two teams through to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Barça and Atlético Madrid hold the advantage after winning the first legs of their quarter-finals. The Catalans did even better, coming from behind to beat PSG at the Parc des Princes. Tonight at Montjuic, Xavi Hernandez and his players are more determined than ever to finish the job and reach the Champions League semi-finals. Xavi is brimming with confidence and is not at all afraid of PSG.

"Tomorrow (Tuesday) is a great opportunity for the team, the staff and the club. Montjuic will be like a cauldron on a magical night. It will be a very similar game to the first leg. PSG won't hold back, they will be brave, with an obligation to win (...) Qualifying would be a huge success. (...) We want to win and go through. I imagine a game identical to the first leg. We are a team that doesn't hold back and neither do PSG," the Spanish coach said at a press conference. FC Barcelona will go into this game with all their attacking options. Pedri is available, as are Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

On the PSG side, they believe in the remontada. Completely shackled in the first leg, Kylian Mbappé is hoping to outwit the Catalan setup. A Mbappé in form and full of inspiration can turn any situation around. It will be a game won by the players, says Achraf Hakimi. "Luis Enrique has several options and we saw that in the first leg, where he was able to change his plans. We worked on that, and in the first leg it worked. We will need a very clear structure. Our players were all brilliant last week. But it's a game for the players, not for the coaches". PSG need to win by two goals to qualify outright, or by one goal to force extra time. However, PSG have never managed to go through after losing the first leg in the Champions League.

Dortmund believe in a remontada against Atlético

While PSG try to overturn Barcelona on their own turf, Atlético Madrid aim to protect their lead in Dortmund. The Colchoneros did the essential job at home (2-1) against the German side. But Sébastien Haller's late goal (81st minute) carries weight and should motivate the Black and Yellows even more to force the Spanish side back. The Ivorian striker, who has an ankle injury, will however miss the game. A huge blow for the German side. But Edin Terzic is counting on Niclas Füllkrug, a pillar of the German attack, who has already scored 12 goals this season in 36 games for Dortmund, one of them in the Champions League, against Newcastle.

Dortmund are also unbeaten in their last nine games at the Signal Iduna Park in the Champions League (5 wins, 4 draws). Better still, Atlético have won only two of their ten away games against German sides in European competition (1 draw, 7 defeats). "I think they were very disciplined last week, that they waited to draw us into their trap. We took three things from that game: first, the result, which shows that we have everything in our hands tomorrow (Tuesday at 21:00) to qualify for the next round. Second, the feeling that it's difficult to play against Atlético when you do what they like to do. But the third is the feeling of what we have to put in to beat them, because we clearly showed it, especially in the second half. And we have to go for it," said coach Terzic.

Diego Simeone is convinced his players will withstand the Dortmund crowd. "We are facing a very strong team at home. Dortmund will start at a very high tempo. We have to stay at the level we have shown in recent games. The team is responding well, it is confident. It will be a good game tomorrow (today). The club is working well. We have grown well with good results in La Liga. It helps us grow in the football world. (...) I feel good about my players, they will play a good game." Kick-off is at 19:00 GMT.