PSG vs. Barça: Can Mbappé decide epic European rivalry again? - ESPN

Three years on from their last encounter in the round of 16, a new chapter in the rivalry between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will be written on Wednesday when they face each other in the Champions League quarterfinals. This time, there is no Lionel Messi, Neymar or Luis Suárez in either camp, but PSG manager Luis Enrique, a Barça legend, is now going up against his former captain, Xavi Hernández, who is looking to deliver a trophy for the Blaugrana before he steps down at the end of the season.

Superstar Kylian Mbappé will take on Robert Lewandowski in the battle of the forwards, while teenage prodigies Warren Zaïre-Emery and Lamine Yamal will look to steal the show. This tie has drama, glamour, tension and history written all over it, so let's break down some of those storylines and talking points.

— Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Between now and the end of the season, every game in a PSG shirt will be critical for Mbappé as he nears a move away from the club, with sources telling ESPN that Real Madrid is his destination. When he scored twice in San Sebastián against Real Sociedad in the last round, all of Spain was watching him and taking note. Mbappé certainly played like he wanted to impress before crossing the Pyrenees in the summer to join Los Blancos.

It will be even bigger against Barça. As a future Merengue, successfully eliminating their archrivals from the competition would please his future fans so much. Even if Luis Enrique has been ruthless with him, taking him off early in some recent games (against Monaco and Marseille) and even starting him on the bench (against Reims and Nantes,) Mbappé wants to finish his PSG career on the highest note possible. He has scored 39 goals in 40