Barcelona’s preparations for the new season are in full swing, with Hansi Flick working to get his squad into peak condition ahead of their La Liga opener.
The pre-season tour of Asia provided a valuable platform for tactical experiments and fitness building, but off the pitch, the narrative around Barca’s place in Europe continues to develop.
Following another year of promise underlined by patches of brilliance, Barcelona are once again tipped as one of the teams to watch in this season’s Champions League.
And now, the club’s president has added fuel to the fire by calling for a European showdown with another continental powerhouse.
Joan Laporta has heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain, describing both Barca and the French champions as the two most in-form and entertaining clubs in Europe last season.
In a revealing interview with CNN via Barcelona official website, Joan Laporta reflected on the campaign just gone, admitting his disappointment that the two sides never faced off in the latter stages of the Champions League.
“PSG performed wonderfully last season,” Laporta said.
“They won the Champions League, they won the French League, they play beautiful football with a great coach, exceptional players, and a strong team as well.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t play against them.”
The Barcelona president didn’t hold back in his admiration for Luis Enrique’s side, but also made it clear that he believes Barcelona were equally deserving of the European spotlight.
“It’s a football match the world is waiting for,” he continued.
“Because I believe we were the two most competitive and best-prepared teams last season.
“We hope to play against them this season so we can find out which one is better.”
With UEFA Champions League fixtures soon to come, Laporta’s comments suggest he would welcome a blockbuster clash between the two sides — not just as a test of footballing quality, but as a global spectacle.
A Barca vs PSG final is no longer a fantasy — it’s becoming a shared ambition.
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