Barca target PSG ‘miracle’ after Messiinspired rout

BARCELONA: Ivan Rakitic believes ‘a miracle’ is possible when Barcelona at tempt to overturn a 4- 0 first leg deficit against Paris Saint- Germain in their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday.

No side in Champions League history has ever come back from four goals down, but Barca hopes were raised by the sensational form of Lionel Messi in Saturday’s 5- 0 rout of Celta Vigo.

“We will give everything from the first minute to the last,” the Croatian international told Spanish TV station Movistar.

“We will try and hopefully we can produce a miracle.”

Messi scored two incredible individual goals to open and close the scoring as Barca remained one point clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

The five-time World Player of the Year had a hand in all three other goals too as he teed up Neymar for a sensational chip and crossed for Samuel Umtiti to score his first Barca goal, whilst Rakitic was

We will give everything from the first minute to the last.

also on the scoresheet.

In their first outing since coach Luis Enrique announced he will step down at the end of the season, Barca produced arguably their best performance of the campaign.

The Catalans also smashed Sporting Gijon 6 - 1 in their previous outing -- both scorelines which would be good enough when PSG visit in midweek.

And Enrique said he couldn’t have wished for a better build-up to the ultimate challenge.

“That it is one of our best performances in the last few months is without doubt,” he said.

“If I had to choose the way in which we would go into the Champions League game against PSG it would be very similar to these last two games: scoring lots of goals, the team gaining confidence and the players getting stronger.

“I think we are in great form for a very difficult tie, that is not lost yet.

“I am sure we are going to have opportunities to get ourselves back in it and we will try until the death.”

Enrique’s name was chanted by an enthralled crowd at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

Banners were also raised towards the end of the match willing Barca’s players to believe in the most unlikely of comebacks against PSG.

“The fans value a lot what these players have won, the hunger they have and what they show in every game,” added Enrique.

“In my time here I have never once seen a poor attitude in any of my players.

“Barca fans should be loyal and, above all, have confidence that the team can come back.” — AFP

Ivan Rakitic