Papin: PSG a ´real chance´ against Barca

Former France international Jean-Pierre Papin believes Paris Saint-Germain are capable of eliminating Barcelona from the Champions League.

Papin, a Ballon d’Or winner in 1991 while at Marseille, insists the Ligue 1 leaders have enough quality to take them past Barca, even with Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended for the first leg.

“Those who think that PSG have no chance are deceiving themselves,” Papin told Le Parisien.

“Even if Barcelona have a 70 percent chance of qualification, with a performance like in the first leg at Valencia, PSG still have a real chance.

“Big players always light up special occasions and Paris Saint-Germain have some great players.”

The quarter-final first leg will be played at Parc des Princes on April 2 and, with Ibrahimovic’s suspension hanging over the tie, many, including Rolland Courbis, are less enthusiastic about PSG’s chances.

“Without Zlatan in the first match, PSG have a one in a hundred chance of winning – especially if the Barcelona who beat AC Milan 4-0 turn up,” he said.