Cabin BLV: Liverpool, Barcelona unlikely to successfully reverse the tide

Both Liverpool and Barcelona enter the quarter-final second leg with the difficult task of overturning the situation after losing 0-2 in the first leg. Although the nature of their defeats differs, their chances of securing a ticket to the semi-finals are not particularly high.

1. The 0-2 loss to PSG in France was clearly something Liverpool did not expect at all. Despite playing at their home ground Anfield, Arne Slot's team is still assessed to have very little hope of reversing the situation, both subjectively and objectively.

The subjective factor is Liverpool's current rather inconsistent form. The 2-0 victory over Fulham last weekend provided a morale boost for Slot's team. However, that alone is insufficient to convince everyone about a comeback for Liverpool. It is known that Anfield has witnessed many memorable reversals, including the 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the 2018-19 Champions League semi-final second leg during their championship journey. But that was a Liverpool at its peak under Jurgen Klopp, with many game-changing factors spread across all three lines. This season's Liverpool under Slot is hard-pressed to find a decisive factor for the quarter-final second leg. Veteran stars like Mohamed Salah are on the decline. New recruits like Ekitike or Wirtz lack the capability and composure for crucial matches.

The objective aspect lies in the formidable strength of PSG at present. Luis Enrique's team indeed performed inconsistently earlier this year. But at the decisive stage of the season, PSG has hit their stride with a streak of 5 consecutive wins across all competitions. The brilliance in the feet of Luis Enrique's squad is very evident at this moment. This could hinder Liverpool's ambition to achieve a miraculous comeback. My personal view is that PSG will secure a semi-final spot after the two legs despite Liverpool's efforts to rally.

2. Barcelona also faces a daunting task no less challenging than Liverpool's. They lost 0-2 in the quarter-final first leg against their domestic rival Atletico Madrid. Notably, tonight's quarter-final is the sixth encounter between the two teams this season. Previously, Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid with scores of 3-1 at home last December and 2-1 away earlier this month in La Liga, besides a 3-0 home win in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg. However, Hansi Flick's team suffered two forgettable defeats: a 0-4 loss in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg away and most recently a 0-2 loss at home in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

The loss in the quarter-final first leg can be considered a disastrous misfortune for Barcelona. They played decently until defender Cubarsi received a red card late in the first half and subsequently conceded two goals in the second half. Compared to Liverpool, Barcelona at least still retains hope for a victory in the second leg. Hansi Flick still possesses several game-changing factors in his squad. For instance, the case of Lamine Yamal, who could completely turn the tide with a moment of brilliance. Unlike the Liverpool-PSG matchup, this match is deemed more watchable because the strength balance between the two teams is not too disparate, plus they know each other well from encounters in La Liga, domestic cup, and Champions League.

Nevertheless, my personal view is that it is very difficult for Barcelona to achieve a victory with a margin exceeding two goals, as Atletico Madrid clearly understands Flick's team well. Diego Simeone is an excellent tactician and knows what to do to maintain the two-goal advantage when playing at home at Wanda Metropolitano. Perhaps a 2-1 win for Barcelona, but Atletico Madrid will advance.