Memories of their agonising Champions League exits in the last two seasons will

spur Paris Saint-Germain on when they host Barcelona in the first leg of their

quarter-final on Wednesday.

The clubs meet at the Parc des Princes with the French champions desperate to make

it to the last four after losing to Barcelona and Chelsea in the quarter-finals in

each of the last two seasons, both times on away goals.

But their 3-2 win against the Catalans in Paris in the group stage, and the

character they showed to beat Chelsea on away goals in the last 16, despite the

sending-off of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the first half at Stamford Bridge, suggest

they have what it takes to make the leap forward this time.

"Beating Chelsea, in a stadium where it is very difficult to get a result, showed

that we have the quality, so why not do it again," said former Barcelona defender

Maxwell at an eve-of-game press conference at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

The Brazilian talked of reaching the semi-finals as a "dream", but he and his

team-mates must work out how to avoid conceding a potentially crucial away goal

against the potent Barcelona front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Asked if the thrilling win against the Catalans last September could be used as a

reference point, PSG coach Laurent Blanc responded: "It is one of many games we

have looked at to prepare this match.

"We have looked at what we need to do and what we need to avoid doing. We can draw

lessons from that game, because we won it and are one of the only sides in Europe

to have scored three goals against Barcelona.

"But there are things we need to make sure we don't do, like concede an away goal,

especially going away from home in the second leg.

"Lots of teams play Barcelona with the aim of not conceding, but they are a team

who can play anywhere in Europe and score goals with the players they have.

"One of the goals they scored here was like something out of the Playstation."

The goal in question was scored by Messi, while Neymar was also on target, but PSG

claimed the three points that night thanks to strikes from David Luiz, Marco

Verratti and Blaise Matuidi.

Barcelona claimed revenge, and top spot in Group F, by winning 3-1 at the Camp Nou

in December, with Messi, Neymar and Suarez all scoring after Ibrahimovic had put

the visitors ahead.

- Motta out, David Luiz in -

While Ibrahimovic is suspended this time, Blanc is faced with the conundrum of how

to stop Messi, who scored his 45th goal of the season in Saturday's 2-2 draw at

Sevilla.

"People say that, when he only scores 40 goals, he has something wrong with him,"

said Blanc. "Putting a man marker on him would be the best thing for him and also

the best way for us to have a player sent off."

As well as Ibrahimovic, the home side will be without the banned Verratti and Serge

Aurier, while Thiago Motta is not fit.

Earlier, Blanc had confirmed that Motta was back in light training after a

hamstring injury, but said "a little miracle" would be needed for him to feature in

this game.

"Motta has started running again, which is great news because after Marseille a lot

of people thought it was serious," said the coach.

However, David Luiz, who like Motta suffered a hamstring injury at Marseille on

April 5 that looked set to sideline him for several weeks, is in the squad.

Blanc also confirmed that Lucas will be involved following his return from two

months out in Saturday's 4-0 League Cup final win against Bastia.
Source: AFP