Liverpool boost as key PSG star could miss both Champions League quarter-final matches | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain may be without important attacker for heavyweight last-eight showdown next month due to injury

The two European giants will meet again in April in a rematch of last season’s last-16 showdown, where both teams won 1-0 away ahead of PSG holding their nerve in a tense penalty shootout at Anfield en route to winning Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in their history.

The defending champions made it through to the quarters again by following up a 5-2 first-leg thrashing of Chelsea in Paris with a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night to seal a commanding 8-2 aggregate triumph, while Liverpool overturned a 1-0 deficit against Galatasaray on Merseyside with a dominant 4-0 success to win 4-1 in the tie.

Now Arne Slot’s side get a chance at revenge against PSG, who will host the first leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, April 8 before then travelling to Anfield for the return fixture six days later on Tuesday, April 14.

Liverpool’s top-three finish in the league phase meant they were guaranteed to be at home for the second leg.

Liverpool’s hopes of avenging last season’s loss may already have been boosted by the potential absence of Barcola, who started and scored in both legs against Chelsea to make it four goals in as many games across all competitions and five in his last six to move on to 12 for the season to go along with six assists in 38 appearances.

PSG confirmed earlier on Wednesday that the French forward suffered a severe ligament sprain in his right ankle in the second leg of the last-16 tie and would now be sidelined for a period of weeks.

French outlet L’Equipe reported that he would miss a month of action, which, if accurate, would rule Barcola out of both legs against Liverpool as well as a key Ligue 1 clash with title rivals Lens on April 11.

He will also play no part for France as they prepare for this summer’s World Cup finals in North America with friendlies against Brazil and Colombia later in March.

Despite the possible absence of Barcola - who has been linked with a transfer to Anfield plenty in the past - for both games against Liverpool, PSG boss Luis Enrique still has a wealth of other attacking options to choose from, with Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele likely to be joined in a three-man attack by Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, availability permitting.