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9 years ago Luis Enrique won the treble in his debut season in Barcelona. He should be able to do the same thing in Paris this year.
Legend: Luis Enrique should finally lead PSG to the Champions League throne. Imago Images/PanoramiC
Paris St-Germain against FC Barcelona. On Wednesday evening, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, it will be a duel between two teams that have longed for a triumph in the premier class for a long time. The French series champion has never been able to lift the “handle pot”; the Catalans’ last title win dates back to 2015.
One person who knows how to win the Champions League is PSG coach Luis Enrique. Nine years ago, the Spaniard led quarter-final opponents Barcelona to a triple win. It was the starting signal for three successful seasons for Barça, in which the team under Enrique was able to celebrate the “Copa del Rey” two more times and another championship title before the now 53-year-old announced his retirement in 2017.
Legend: Celebrated Luis Enrique’s treble win with Barcelona in 2015. Imago Images/Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Barça was denied another CL triumph in the Enrique era. Blaugrana fans will still remember the 2017/18 campaign very well: Barcelona managed the most spectacular comeback in the history of the Champions League, better known as “Remontada”, against PSG with Enrique on the sidelines. After a 4-0 defeat in the first leg of the round of 16 in Paris, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Co. prevailed 6-1 in the second leg at Camp Nou and still made it to the quarter-finals.
The dream of the triple is alive
These are memories that will certainly come back to life before the duel between the two teams, but Enrique should try to ignore them as much as possible before the first leg in the Parc des Princes in Paris. The Spaniard has the same plans with his new employer as he did nine years ago: to win the treble in his debut season at PSG. An elimination against his former club would obviously thwart these plans.
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You can see the summary of the game PSG – Barcelona as well as the highlights between Atletico and Dortmund on Wednesday from 11 p.m. in the program “Champions League – Highlights” on SRF two.
PSG is currently on track in all three competitions: They are comfortably leading in the league, the team is in the final of the cup, and in the Champions League the Parisians were drawn into the supposedly easier half of the tournament. If Enrique’s team jumps over the Barcelona hurdle, they would face Dortmund or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.
But the Catalans are by no means an easy opponent. Coach Xavi’s team is in form. Barça have not lost in the league in eight games. Because Real Madrid is clearly leading in the league, the focus in Barcelona has been on the Champions League for a long time – and the first title since Enrique’s debut season.