How Paris Saint-Germain could line up against Barcelona

Mauricio Pochettino gears up for a baptism of fire in his first Champions League game in charge of Paris Saint-Germain as his team travel to Barcelona for the first leg of their last-16 battle.

PSG topped Group H under Thomas Tuchel and warmed up for this game with a 2-1 triumph over Nice in Ligue 1, with Julian Draxler and Moise Kean finding the back of the net in that one.

The visitors have already renewed hostilities with Barcelona off the pitch regarding their pursuit of Lionel Messi, and they are now returning to the scene of La Remontada, where Barca overturned a 4-0 deficit to win 6-1 in the 2016-17 Champions League.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how PSG could line up for the contest.

Out: Neymar (groin), Angel Di Maria (thigh), Colin Dagba (thigh), Timothee Pembele (coronavirus), Juan Bernat (ACL)

Doubtful: Marco Verratti (hip), Rafinha (muscle)

> Click here for Paris Saint-Germain's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

PSG attacker Neymar has talked up the prospect of a reunion with Messi in the French capital, but the Brazil international - who boasts seven goals in this fixture - will not return to Camp Nou this week due to a groin injury, which could rule him out of the second leg as well.

With fellow winger Angel Di Maria also sidelined, Pochettino could once again turn to Moise Kean - who hit double figures for the season against Nice - to fill the void on the right, while Kylian Mbappe will attack down the left.

Julian Draxler has endured a troubled campaign due to injuries, but the Germany international justified his manager's faith in him with the opener against Nice and should line up behind Mauro Icardi, especially with ex-Barca man Rafinha doubtful with a muscular problem.

Marco Verratti is another midfielder who could be forced to miss out due to a hip injury, so Idrissa Gueye and Leandro Paredes are likely to line up in the heart of Pochettino's midfield, but the fit-again Ander Herrera is another option.

Marquinhos 's sloppy pass allowed Nice's Rony Lopes to score on Saturday, but the Brazilian is not in any danger of losing his place in defence alongside Presnel Kimpembe, although Alessandro Florenzi could replace Thilo Kehrer at right-back.

Pochettino's number one Keylor Navas returned in between the sticks at the weekend in place of Sergio Rico, and the Costa Rican will somehow attempt to keep his 14th clean sheet of the season at Camp Nou on Tuesday.