Don’t rush to write off PSG’s Kylian Mbappé from this season’s Champions League just yet. The French star is under significant pressure after a lackluster performance in the first leg. But for a world-class player like Mbappé, explosiveness can strike at any moment.

History is against PSG. They’ve just suffered their fifth home defeat in the first leg of a knockout round in the Champions League. And in the previous four occasions, they’ve never successfully overturned the deficit. Will the fifth time be different, or will the outcome be the same as before?

Mbappé has faced Barcelona three times in the Champions League, with a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss. The French international has scored 4 goals, including a hat-trick that helped PSG crush Barcelona 4-1 at Camp Nou on February 17, 2021, in the first leg of the round of 16. At that time, Mauricio Pochettino deployed a 4-3-3 formation with Mbappé playing as the left forward, opposite wings were occupied by Moise Kean and Mauro Icardi as the highest attackers in PSG’s frontline.

Mbappé is hungry for the ball, but he’s always closely watched by Barcelona’s defenders and unable to shine.

Barcelona, led by Lionel Messi, dominated ball possession throughout the match. Pochettino allowed PSG to play on the counter, maximizing Mbappé’s speed and individual technique. The result: PSG won 4-1, with three goals from the French superstar.

Reflecting on a match over 4 years ago, it’s evident that the current PSG under Luis Enrique aims for ball control, facing difficulties against Barcelona in the first leg just 6 days prior.

To reverse the situation in the second leg in Spain, Lucho should let PSG play on the counter, focusing more on vertical play to utilize Mbappé’s depth. It’s a direct approach, challenging Barcelona’s defense.

By playing high and aiming for control, Mbappé was non-existent or nearly so in the first leg. When you want to dominate possession, you need players to do so, but Ousmane Dembélé didn’t show he could play in that manner in the first leg. And Mbappé needs space and the ball to play. Therefore, PSG will have to play behind Barcelona’s defensive line.

With Hakimi back, Mbappé and Dembélé have a solid partnership.

Throughout the 2023/24 season, we’ve seen Mbappé often being the one to resolve situations. PSG must rely on this if they want to play effectively and secure a spot in the semi-finals. In the first leg, PSG had 4 or 5 players out of position: Marquinhos was shifted to the right wing, Lee Kang-in had to play as a right midfielder, Vitinha was stuck in the midfield, Marco Asensio played as a center forward, not to mention Lucas Hernandez was also not playing in his preferred left wing position.

And PSG struggled in the first half. It wasn’t until the personnel adjustments in the second half that Lucho’s team played better. In a match as crucial as this one, every little detail matters, so Enrique and PSG should put their trust in Mbappé, provide him with the necessary space, and give him enough opportunities to play. When Mbappé is given the chance to shine, magic can happen.

Furthermore, the return of Achraf Hakimi (suspended in the first leg) brings a lot of hope. The Moroccan player is crucial to PSG. He can change the game both offensively and defensively. Hakimi is an excellent wing-back. He will help PSG’s defense cope with Barcelona’s speed and be the perfect partner for Dembélé to form a formidable duo on the right wing for the home team.

In the first leg, Dembélé sometimes became overly eager to shoot and forgot to cooperate with his teammate Mbappé. The former Barcelona player is most dangerous when he doesn’t focus solely on scoring goals. A Dembélé who can do everything except score goals is the best Dembélé.

The one-goal gap isn’t insurmountable, especially since the away goals rule has been abolished. Mbappé is poised to assert himself before joining Real Madrid and against his biggest rival from next season onwards.

“I believe the best Kylian Mbappé will return in Catalonia this week. There’s no reason to doubt his talent and class. Kylian will be responsible for scoring crucial goals for PSG at the Olimpic Lluis Companys Stadium. He will come back,” former PSG midfielder Javier Pastore emphasized.