Paris Saint-Germain will be spurred on by the memory of their agonising Champions League exits in the last two seasons 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 being dumped out of the competition on away goals to Barcelona and Chelsea in the quarter-finals in each of the last two seasons.
It will be the third time that the two sides have met in the competition this season after each recording a win over the other in Group F.
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, in light of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first-half dismissal, suggests they have what it takes to make the leap forward this time.
A look back at PSG's 2014 meeting with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes
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.”
Barcelona have won 30 of their last 34 games in all competitions, but a nine-game winning streak came to an end in a 2-2 draw at Sevilla on Saturday.
The result at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium illustrated both the good and the bad of Barca, as they stormed into an early lead before surrendering two points late on.
Watch Neymar's sublime free-kick in Barcelona's 2-2 draw with Sevilla
Having lost in Paris in September, Barcelona claimed revenge, and top spot in Group F, by winning 3-1 at the Camp Nou in December.
Messi, Neymar and Suarez all scored after Ibrahimovic had put the visitors ahead, and now the Parisians must work out how to avoid conceding a potentially crucial away goal against the potent Barcelona front three.
Team news
PSG will be without several key players for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.
Already without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Laurent Blanc has an injury concern over centre-back Thiago Motta (thigh), while midfield lynchpin Marco Verratti misses the clash through suspension. David Luiz has been named in the squad despite concerns over a hamstring injury.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss first leg after red card at Chelsea.
Barcelona have no fresh injuries concerns for the trip to Paris, with long term absentees Thomas Vermaelen, Jodri Masip, Douglas and Rafinha all set to miss out.
Betting
Barcelona are marginally odds-on with Sky Bet establish a first-leg lead in Paris, as PSG are considered100/30 outsiders despite home advantage. Luis Enrique’s men head into the tie as 5/2 second favourites in the Champions League outright, while their hosts are 18/1 to lift the trophy. Lionel Messi(7/2) leads a first goalscorer market dominated by Barca players, with Luis Suarez (9/2) and Neymar(11/2) both also shorter than Edinson Cavani (15/2).
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