Ilkay Gundogan key to Barca’s Champions League aspirations against PSG

Everything is finely poised ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League return against Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona certainly had the measure of Kylian Mbappe et al, but still conceded needlessly, and that Achilles heel needs to be addressed because the French World Cup winner isn’t likely to be as quiet again.

We’ll come back to defensive aspects later because if Ilkay Gundogan isn’t on his game, the hosts might just be on a wing and a prayer if they want to get through to the semi-final.

His is an understated importance in the big games, and to many his contributions may go under the radar.

However, when Gundogan is doing the business in the middle of the park, Barca tick along nicely.

A creator of more chances than any other player in the Champions League is a stat that isn’t to be sniffed at or taken lightly.

If anything, it shows the profligacy of Barca’s attack.

One can moan and groan about forwards not being given the service, but the ball is very much on the other foot in this case.

The likes of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha are getting ample chances it would seem, they’re just not generally taking them.

Of course, Raphinha gobbled up a couple of goals against the Ligue 1 side, and if he’s on song again in the second leg, Barca could take the tie away from their opponents.

There were certainly passages of play in the first leg whereby if the Catalans had been sharper in and around the box, there was at least another goal or two available to them.

Home advantage won’t really count next week either, as the Lluis Companys hasn’t necessarily proved to be a lucky ground for the Blaugranes.

It will absolutely see the best atmosphere of the season though, with Ousmane Dembele perhaps having to steel himself ahead of an expected barrage of abuse.

He will be up against countryman Jules Kounde, whilst Araujo and the brilliant Pau Cubarsi will need to shackle Mbappe again.

The back four is a much more complete unit with Cubarsi in it, and that’s quite astonishing when you think about it. He just doesn’t put a foot wrong.

It’s very much a case of same again from him, but our big Uruguayan has to settle quickly into the game along with Kounde. Any nervousness or wayward balls will only play into PSG’s hands.

For Joao Cancelo, one night of easing off on the marauding runs forward with no end product would be just the ticket, but on the basis that Xavi will again give him licence to roam, he has to make the right decision in the final third.

Game on!