Lionel Messi will be taking on his former El Classico rivals Real Madrid when Paris Saint Germain and the Spanish giants meet in the Champions League round of 16 first-leg game on Wednesday (IST) at the Parc des Princes. 

For PSG, a Champions League title has been a priority for long. They’ve added loads of individual talents to their squad but collectively, the team has failed to deliver at the biggest stage. This week, the French giants face one of the toughest test they would have to in 2021-22 – Real Madrid. 

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The La Liga sharks haven’t reached the final since completing a straight hat trick of European Cups in 2018. Now coach Carlo Ancelotti travels to face the side he once coached with only one win in the past four matches in all competitions, but confidence remains high.

For the Parisian outfit, Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, is expected to be the game-changer. The former Barcelona great has adapted slowly to his new club since he signed a two-year deal with PSG last summer, scoring just seven goals in 20 appearances.

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PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino keeps repeating the 34-year-old Argentine great needs time to find the right balance in his new surroundings, but all eyes will be on Messi against Madrid, a club he tortured during his long spell in Spain with Barcelona, scoring 26 goals and delivering 14 assists in 45 games.

With Neymar just back from injury and unlikely to start, PSG will also be counting on Mbappe to make an impact. The France forward, who has long been courted by Madrid, has been in superb form recently and scored an injury-time winner on Friday in the French league.

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A mouth-watering duel between Mbappe and France teammate Karim Benzema seems unlikely to unfold. Benzema has been included in the Madrid squad but is doubtful as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since last month.

With inputs from the Associated Press