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Monaco worse than Dortmund but Juve must watch out - Allegri
By Miles Chambers
Apr 5, 2015 00:10:38
The coach has insisted his players avoid underestimating the Ligue 1 club but gave a glowing assessment of his charges after they defeated Empoli
Massimiliano Allegri thinks Juventus ' Champions League quarter-final opponents Monaco are a worse team than Borussia Dortmund, who they defeated in the previous round, but warned against complacency.
The coach has overseen a rampant season so far in Turin, with the club still fighting on three fronts with two months to go in 2014-15 and the Serie A crown looking all-but secure.
Juve have disappointed in Europe in recent campaigns but will be hoping to turn over a new leaf by conquering French underdogs Monaco in the last eight this month.
"I saw a bit of Monaco’s draw with Saint-Etienne yesterday," Allegri told reporters. "They might not have as much quality as Borussia Dortmund, but they are difficult to play against and the fact they’re underdogs will give them something extra.
"I told my players it doesn't matter if you're more talented in a Champions League quarter-final; you have to be better on the night.
"I brought my concepts to the squad and tried to improve those things that could be improved after winning the Scudetto for three years in a row. This team should be aware it’s one of the best in Europe, but we mustn’t get comfortable."
Juventus battled to a 2-0 triumph over Empoli on Saturday and Allegri was pleased to see his team record yet another cleansheet - especially having not trained with his players for the best part of a fortnight.
"We allowed Empoli practically nothing in the first half, but after the break we tried to control the situation and did allow some risks to sneak in," the coach added.
"It’s not easy to win four in a row with cleansheets. Many of the players only returned from international duty on Thursday, so they really do deserve complimenting.
"Empoli are a very organised side and played well, so we had to play between the lines and the only way to open them up was to keep moving their defenders from one side to the other.
"I’d say it’s a great victory against a team in good shape who were unbeaten in eight games."
Carlos Tevez opened the scoring at the Juventus Stadium with an indirect free kick before Roberto Pereyra doubled the lead deep into second-half stoppage-time.
Casemiro: Porto can go all the way in Champions League
By Stefan Coerts
Apr 7, 2015 10:50:15
The Real Madrid loanee realises they face a tough task to win the competition, but is confident they have the quality to achieve just that
Porto midfielder Casemiro is confident the Portuguese side have what it takes to go all the way in the Champions League.
Julen Lopetegui's men saw off Basel in the round of 16 and will now have to deal with Bayern Munich if they are to make it to the semi-finals of the competition.
Casemiro has acknowledged it will not be easy for Porto to dethrone titleholders Real Madrid, but is optimistic about their chances as long as they take it one game at a time.
"We're among the best eight sides in Europe. We are obviously doing well but we have a very long path ahead of us," Casemiro told the official Uefa website.
"We've already shown we have the ability to go a long way, but we have to take it game by game. We have to think about playing well now, and then in the semi-finals and then in the final.
"We're getting better every day, with every match, and I'm sure there is even further potential for improvement.
"Winning a competition like the Champions League is simply extraordinary. I don't have the words to describe the happiness a player feels when they win something like this.
"I would just say we have to try to emulate what Real Madrid achieved last season, taking it game by game."
Porto last won the Champions League in 2003-04, when they beat Monaco 3-0 in the final.
David Luiz and Motta out of Barcelona clash, Blanc confirms
By Alec Fenn
Apr 7, 2015 16:17:55
The Ligue 1 champions have been dealt a major blow after learning two of their Brazilian stars will be absent for next week's crunch European game
Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc has confirmed David Luiz and Thiago Motta will both miss next week's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Barcelona through injury.
Luiz was withdrawn after 34 minutes of Sunday's 3-2 victory over Marseille in Ligue 1, which leaves PSG a point clear at the top of the division, while Motta complained of a thigh problem after the game.
The news is a further blow ahead of facing Barca with star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic already absent after being sent off against Chelsea in the second leg of their last-16 tie, while Marco Verratti will also miss out after picking up his third booking of the campaign at Stamford Bridge.
PSG also have the matter of a French Cup semi-final against Saint-Etienne on Wednesday night as their injury worries continue to mount.
Blanc said at Tuesday's press conference: "I confirm that Luiz will be out for four weeks and 10 days for Thiago Motta.
"Thiago Motta is not available to play Saint-Etienne to prevent a thigh injury because of fatigue. Serge Aurier returns to the group.
"Lucas [Moura] is almost back in the group but we will wait for training to see if he is fit or not."
Another concern for Blanc is the fitness of Edinson Cavani, who is also missing on Wednesday, with the coach blaming himself for his latest injury.
"I made a mistake with Cavani. I should have taken him off at half-time. He knows it, I said it. We agreed, but he said that he was still able to play.
"I told him to continue for 15 to 20 minutes and I would take him off after about 15. He criticised me for not letting him have 20 minutes. I should have taken him off at half-time."
COMMENT: The Spain international is feeling his way back to fitness after a year on the sidelines and, with his team-mates dropping like flies, can finally demonstrate his class
By Peter Staunton
Thiago Alcantara injured his knee ligaments for the first time against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga last March. Following his departure from the field of play, Bayern Munich could only muster a 3-3 draw on the night and there ended a run of 19 consecutive victories. That sensational run of form coincided with the Spain midfielder's introduction to the first team after being injured upon his arrival from Barcelona.
Without him in the line-up, Bayern would fail to win six of their next 10 games and were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid. The wind was taken from their sails at a time when they looked most unstoppable. While the excuse of a lack of motivation was offered, it was plain to see that Thiago's absence killed them.
Pep Guardiola made sure that the signing of Thiago, only Thiago, be delivered when first he decamped to Bavaria. It was his former Barcelona charge and the qualities only he could bring or else no-one at all. Due to
niggles, knocks, strains and tears, it has not worked out like that for club or player, who suffered a recurrence of the knee problem before the winter break.
It is not unusual to look at Bayern, sometimes, and feel they are missing something. Well they are and it is Thiago. It was the case again against Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals. Over 120 minutes, the reigning German double-holders could only manage a measly three shots on Bernd Leno's goal. They had plenty of the ball but fell into that dreaded trap of Guardiola's, the trap that keeps the ball but stifles it.
There have, of course, been concerns over Bayern losing so many key players at this stage of the season. Treble-winners Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and David Alaba were all absent at the BayArena and Bayern suffered. They laboured to the end with only Mario Gotze's shot in the second period of extra-time counting as a serious attempt. He ultimately fired wide. That chance, too, would have been academic had Julian Brandt not done similar at the end of 90 minutes.
Penalties were needed and it was fitting for Pep's Bayern that the man he wanted here more than any other should be given the opportunity to roll the ball home for a 5-3 shootout victory.
"You have to take a bow for this team," sporting director Matthias Sammer said to ARD after. "We have so many injured players. But we just keep getting closer together and we fight through."
Thiago had to hold back the tears when coming on at the weekend for his competitive return against Borussia Dortmund and this will have been an even bigger emotional uplift.
He was entrusted with the ball, completing his fair share of passes after replacing Philipp Lahm, but a studs-up tackle on Stefan Kiessling near the end of normal time betrayed a touch of ring-rustiness.
He will need more minutes in his legs, for sure, but Thiago's timely return will boost Bayern's treble tilt. Just as the season is closing in, Bayern's players are dropping like flies. Mehdi Benatia is the latest addition to the infirm list having departed in the first half with a muscular injury.
Indeed, it seems like Guardiola has never once had a full complement during his time at Munich. There are long-term absentees like Javi Martinez and Thiago who have not got a look in this season but who could be reasonably described as first-team certainties.
More than just a starter though, Thiago is the player that should be the beating heart of this Bayern team. Over the next few decisive weeks, he can prove it. For the first time in his Bayern career, he is available when they truly need him.
Porto next week in the Champions League will be a mammoth task for the 2013 winners especially considering the current injury situation at the club. The Portuguese side are in handy form themselves having demolished Estoril on Monday and Bayern have not won any of their last two away Champions League games.
The Bundesliga title may be wrapped up but Bayern are still two matches from glory in the DFB-Pokal and have a long way to go in Europe.
Now is the opportunity for Thiago to show he is the player Pep asked for above anyone else.
The former Spain international is optimistic about the Santiago Bernabeu outfit's chances of lifting the prestigious trophy again this season
Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro believes the Santiago Bernabeu side have what it takes to win a second consecutive Champions League title this season.
No team has ever successfully defended its European title since the introduction of the Champions League in its current format, yet Hierro feels the Santiago Bernabeu side have the quality to build on last year's win over Atletico Madrid.
"I think the current squad can go on a successful European run like we did in the late 1990s and early 2000s," Hierro told the official Uefa website.
"They are strong and confident and they won a very close Champions League final last time.
"Every record is there just to be broken. Everyone is pessimistic now because no club has won back to back Champions Leagues, but I think we are a really powerful team with a great coach leading us.
"The urge to be champions of Europe is in the club's DNA."
Madrid beat Schalke 5-4 on aggregate to book their ticket for the quarter-finals of the competition, where they will meet city-rivals Atletico Madrid.
The Bayern Munich defender has confirmed he will miss both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Porto with a hamstring injury
Bayern Munich have been dealt another injury blow with the news that Medhi Benatia could be out for a month due to a hamstring injury.
The Moroccan limped out of Bayern's penalty shoot-out win over Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday and has now confirmed that he will miss both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Porto.
"Following medical tests I am out for two to four weeks," Benatia tweeted on Thursday. "I'm disappointed, but it is an occupational hazard."
For the Bavarians, it is the latest setback on the medical front, with Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger and David Alaba also missing at the moment due to injuries.
Franck Ribery has been on the sidelines too but made his return to training on Thursday, completing a light workload of sprinting exercises.
Benatia has made 19 appearances for Bayern since arriving from Roma in the summer of 2014 in a €28 million deal.
Monaco suffer double injury blow ahead of Juventus clash
By Miles Chambers
Apr 11, 2015 14:20:00
The French club's captain Jeremy Toulalan is a major doubt to feature against the Bianconeri in Tuesday's Champions League tussle
Monaco look set to be without influential midfielder Jeremy Toulalan for their Champions League quarter-final clashes with Juventus, while veteran defender Ricardo Carvalho is also a doubt.
Toulalan pulled up early in the second half of les Rouges et Blancs' 3-0 win over Caen on Friday and early predictions are suggesting he will be sidelined for as long as a month.
The skipper's absence could be a huge blow for Monaco's hopes of reaching their first Champions League final since 2003-04 - when they were defeated by Jose Mourinho's Porto - as they prepare to face Juventus in Turin on Tuesday.
“I don't know if Toulalan's injury is serious yet or not,” Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim told reporters after Anthony Martial's opener and Bernardo Silva's second-half double helped his side to victory. “We'll evaluate the severity at the weekend.
“He is a really important player for us and our captain, but if he can't be fit to face Juventus then it won't be a problem.
“We'll be able to replace him - after all, he wasn't playing against Arsenal in London and we managed to win that game 3-1.”
Former Chelsea and Real Madrid centre-back Carvalho, 36, also needed an ice pack applied to his thigh during Friday's victory and might need to be rested against Massimiliano Allegri's men to return to fitness.
Monaco are arguably the surprise package of this Champions League season having topped Group C in 2014 and shocked Arsenal to reach the last eight on the away goal rule.
Their victory at Caen propelled them into third place in Ligue 1 as they closed the gap on leaders Paris Saint-Germain to four points.
Cup final triumph perfect preparation for Barcelona, says Blanc
By Robin Bairner
Apr 12, 2015 00:00:00
The coach lauded his players' performances as they swept aside Bastia in the Coupe de la Ligue showpiece ahead of their Champions League tie on Wednesday
Laurent Blanc branded Paris Saint-Germain's Coupe de la Ligue final performance as "perfect" preparation to face Barcelona.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani both bagged doubles in a 4-0 triumph over 10-man Bastia at the Stade de France, securing the first of a potential four major trophies in 2014-15.
The Catalans visit Parc des Princes on Wednesday in the hopes of avoiding a second defeat in the capital this season, having fallen foul of Laurent Blanc's men in the group stage.
Blanc is adamant that the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to suspension and a handful of injuries will not impact his team's ability to deal damage to Luis Enrique's side in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
"A perfect match? Yes. It's a great win. It's great preparation for Barcelona," he told reporters. "We will rise in intensity for Wednesday to play a big game.
"It's more important how the team plays than individuals. All my players are capable of playing in the Champions League.
"Even if we have problems with injury and suspension, we will have a competitive team."
While PSG revelled in cup final success, Barca stumbled to a 2-2 draw at Sevilla on Saturday, allowing Real Madrid to close the gap at the top of La Liga to two points.
However, the last time Lionel Messi and his Camp Nou cohorts failed to win was against Malaga, prior to their 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League last 16.
Tevez back for Juve but Pirlo will have to wait - Allegri
By Kris Voakes
Apr 10, 2015 12:11:00
The Juventus boss has confirmed that the Argentine is available once more after injury but the midfielder will not return until the clash with Monaco
Carlos Tevez is fit to return for Juventus on Saturday, but Andrea Pirlo will have to wait until the Champions League quarter-final showdown with Monaco to make his long-awaited comeback.
While Tevez is back after a thigh injury, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that Pirlo will miss the Serie A trip to Parma with his troublesome calf strain.
But he has confirmed that the midfielder will be available for Tuesday’s first leg against the Ligue 1 outfit at Juventus Stadium.
"Tevez is fine, and while Pirlo will not be available on Saturday, he will be on Tuesday," Allegri told a press conference on Friday.
Parma are well adrift at the bottom of the league and are destined for relegation at the end of the campaign, while they have also been declared bankrupt after countless financial difficulties in recent times.
Yet Allegri insists that he will not be taking it easy at the Ennio Tardini, even with Juve holding a commanding 14-point lead in Serie A.
"On Saturday the best possible team will be out on the pitch, since so many players are already rested. It is a decisive game in the championship," he insisted.
"We must give Parma and [head coach Roberto] Donadoni great credit for their professionalism in Serie A this season. From next Saturday we will begin a run of matches against sides going well in the league. The boys know the importance of the Parma game.
"Taking home the three points on Saturday would mean us taking home another little piece of the Scudetto."
The clash at Parma kicks off at 18:00 CET, with attention then turning to Tuesday's home fixture against Monaco as Juve go in search of their first Champions League quarter-final win since 2003.
Bale out but Ronaldo reprieve is vital - Ancelotti
By Kris Voakes
Apr 10, 2015 12:43:42
The Welsh winger is missing with a foot injury but the Real Madrid boss can call on the Portuguese after his one-game ban was lifted
Gareth Bale will miss Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Eibar in a bid to ensure he is fit for Tuesday’s Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed.
The world-record signing has been struggling with a nagging foot injury in recent days and, while he took part in the 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, he will sit out Saturday's fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu in preparation for Tuesday's crucial clash.
"Bale is not available, he has been tested and he has an overload," Ancelotti told a press conference on Friday. "It is better to rest him so that he is ready on Tuesday."
There was better news for the Blancos earlier on Friday when Cristiano Ronaldo's yellow card at Rayo Vallecano was rescinded, freeing him to line up against Eibar.
“We thought the yellow card was unjust, so we challenged it," said Ancelotti of the booking for alleged diving.
"We need Ronaldo for Saturday as it is an important day. We have great respect for Eibar and we cannot fail. We need the best starting XI possible available to us."
Luka Modric played 90 minutes for the second time in only three days in Vallecas but was seen grabbing at his left thigh as he left the pitch in pain as he continues his comeback from a four-month layoff.
But Ancelotti insists there is no cause for concern and the Croatian midfielder will line up against Eibar.
"Modric ended tired as there was only one rest day, but they are all tired. Luka will play."
Madrid go into the 16:00 CET kick-off trailing La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points, with the Catalans taking on Sevilla four hours later.
The midfielder is in good spirits after Zlatan Ibrahimovic inspired Laurent Blanc's men to a Coupe de la Ligue final win over Bastia
Blaise Matuidi fired a warning to Barcelona that Coupe de la Ligue winners Paris Saint-Germain are ready for Wednesday's Champions League battle.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is out of the first leg of the quarter-final against his former club, opened the scoring against Bastia and added a second in the first half before Edinson Cavani bagged a late double to seal a 4-0 triumph at the Stade de France.
With Barcelona having been held to a 2-2 draw by Sevilla an hour earlier, Matuidi hopes PSG's first major trophy of 2014-15 can inspire them to their second victory over the Catalans this season.
"It's true that, right now, everything is good for PSG," the central midfielder told France 2. "We played to win and we played a very good match.
"Bastia were a man down for much of the match, but we have done the right thing. This is our first big trophy this season. Now we have to try to get a second and maybe a third.
"And it was important to win for the confidence so we can beat Barca."
As well as revelling in Laurent Blanc's men taking the first trophy in what fans hope will be a quadruple, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi expressed his relief that there were no additional injuries.
"This is hopefully just the first title for us," he said. "We are delighted. We're happy because there were no injuries today, too. We are ready for Barca."
PSG defeated Luis Enrique's side earlier this season at Parc des Princes in the Champions League group stage and they will be hoping history can repeat itself despite missing talisman Ibrahimovic through suspension.
The European champions have not beaten their city rivals in any of the six games they have faced each other this season and the coach wants that to change in the Champions League
Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid's six-game winless streak against Atletico Madrid this season is providing his team with extra motivation ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Atletico were victorious in both Liga meetings this term – the most recent a 4-0 thrashing in February – and knocked Real out of the Copa Del Rey as well as beating their city rivals in the Supercopa de Espana back in August.
Los Blancos' last win over Atletico, in fact, came in last season's Champions League final.
The seventh meeting between the teams in 2014-15 takes place at the Vicente Calderon and Ancelotti is brimming with confidence after his team kept the pressure on league leaders Barcelona with a 3-0 success over Eibar on Saturday.
"The last results against Atletico give us extra motivation," the Italian coach said.
"We are convinced it will be a different game, but difficult as always when we play Atletico.
"But we are in a good place at the moment, full of motivation for the European competition and we are going to give our best.
"We haven't got any doubts that it will be an intense game. We do know intensity will be an important part of the game, but then there are other things as well which we have to use."
Juventus v Monaco: Moutinho hopeful of another upset
12 April 2015
Monaco midfielder Joao Moutinho says Juventus are favourites for their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash on Tuesday, despite their Serie A slip-up at the weekend.
The sides meet in Turin in the first leg of their last-eight tie, with Juve heading into the fixture on the back of a shock 1-0 league defeat at the hands of beleaguered basement club Parma.
Monaco, who progressed on away goals in a 3-3 aggregate draw with Arsenal, are on an eight-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1 following a 3-0 win at Caen on Friday.
"Juventus have a great team with formidable players - a compact group who are very organised," Moutinho told TuttoSport. "We say that they are the favourites, but then Arsenal were also favourites.
"For us it will not be easy, but we will give 200 per cent in order to achieve our goal. We want to play the semi-finals.
"After the semi-finals, we want the final.
"We are young and ambitious. We will do whatever it takes to win. It is an important opportunity we must exploit.
"How? By remaining focused for 180 minutes. Every distraction is likely to be lethal against Juve."
Prior to Saturday's loss at Parma, league leaders Juve had suffered just one Serie A defeat all season, while a 5-1 aggregate win against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 saw them safely into the quarter-finals.
Both sides are seeking a first appearance in the semi-finals in more than a decade, but Monaco's record of having never won in Italy could make them wary against a Juve side who have won all 10 of their knockout ties against French opposition.
The visitors will, though, be comforted by back-to-back victories in their last two away matches in this season's competition.
Patrice Evra will come up against his former club if selected by Juve, who have Stephan Lichtsteiner, Alvaro Morata, Roberto Pereyra and Arturo Vidal a booking away from suspension.
Moutinho is one of three players walking the disciplinary tightrope for Monaco, while Jeremy Toulalan limped out of the victory at Caen.
Andrea Pirlo (calf), Martin Caceres (ankle) and Paul Pogba (thigh) - also one yellow card shy of a ban - are all set to miss out for Juve.
Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid Preview: Ancelotti's men desperate for derby improvement
By Dom Farrell
Apr 13, 2015 08:01:46
Diego Simeone's side are unbeaten in six games against their city rivals but have their own score to settle following last season's Lisbon defeat
Real Madrid will aim to turn around a dismal recent record against city rivals Atletico Madrid when the clubs meet in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Since overcoming their neighbours to lift an historic 10th European crown last May, Real have failed to beat Atletico in six attempts.
A 1-0 defeat at the Vicente Calderon in August gave Atletico a 2-1 aggregate triumph in the Spanish Super Cup, and Diego Simeone's side won by the same margin over 90 minutes when the teams met at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga three weeks later.
A 2-0 win on home turf for Atleti led them to a 4-2 victory across two legs in January’s Copa del Rey tie, and a 4-0 Liga humbling followed for Real in February.
The latter result and a haphazard negotiation of the Champions League last-16 encounter with Schalke served to increase discontent among the Real faithful with coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Nevertheless, there could still be a glorious conclusion to their season after Barcelona spurned a two-goal lead over Sevilla on Saturday to leave the door ajar in La Liga's title race.
But settling a local score is Real's immediate concern, and full-back Alvaro Arbeloa is confident Atleti's derby dominance can be brought to an end.
"There's a lot of hope and motivation among the squad," he told reporters after Saturday's 3-0 win over Eibar.
"We know we have not beat [Atletico] this year, but we believe we know why that is. There are good players on the [Real] bench who can change the game and on top of that we have the return leg at the Bernabeu."
The Champions League represents Atletico's remaining realistic chance to win silverware this term after the Liga title holders failed to gain ground on Barca and Real at the weekend.
Antoine Griezmann continued his rich vein of form with a brace in the 2-2 draw against Malaga, but fellow forward Fernando Torres believes coach Simeone holds the key to the team's ongoing success in showdowns with Real.
"It is his character as a player and his character as a coach that drives the team," Torres told UEFA.com.
"He knows we are a team that needs to know what we are about, our weaknesses and our strengths, but above all our weaknesses so we can then implement our qualities.
"We don't have the options that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern [Munich] or Chelsea have, we cannot drop points and make up for them later. We are a team that plays at our limit."
Real are ready to welcome back Gareth Bale from an ankle problem, while midfielders Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez will return having missed out against Eibar through suspension.
Atletico striker Mario Mandzukic has scored twice against Real this term but is set to miss out with an ankle injury.
Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona: Adriano urges Catalans to learn from mistakes
13 April 2015
Adriano has urged Barcelona to learn from their mistakes from the group-stage games with Paris Saint-Germain when they face the French club in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Having defeated Manchester City in the last 16, Barca were pitted against a PSG side that knocked out Chelsea in the previous round and caused the Catalans significant problems in the pools.
Barca were beaten 3-2 at the Parc des Princes but won the return fixture 3-1 at Camp Nou, despite falling behind to an early Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal.
But versatile Brazilian Adriano, who could replace the suspended Dani Alves at right-back in Paris on Wednesday, is expecting a very different challenge this time around.
He told Barca's official website: "They're going to come at us with a lot more intensity, more ready to go and I think that they are going to try to avoid committing the same errors as before, especially in the match at Camp Nou, when we played much better than the game in Paris.
"In that first game there, we suffered too much. We didn't succeed in keeping possession of the ball.
"What we want to do is play our game. In the first half at Camp Nou we didn't have the ball much but in the second half we corrected the mistakes we made in the first half, and we were able to do what we needed to do.
"That's what we're going to try and do in the first leg and hopefully we'll get a good result in the return leg."
PSG, meanwhile, head into the game having won the Coupe de la Ligue by beating Bastia 4-0 on Saturday, and they have been further boosted by Lucas Moura's return from injury.
Yet, with Ibrahimovic, Marco Verratti and Serge Aurier all suspended and Daid Luiz (hamstring) out, replicating their group-stage victory over Lionel Messi and co will be a tall order.
Midfielder Thiago Motta is also a doubt with a thigh problem, but PSG coach Laurent Blanc is keen for his side to maintain their strong form despite the high-profile absentees.
Speaking after the win over Bastia, he said: "We would have liked to enjoy this victory to its full, but we don't have the time because we have to look towards Barcelona.
"We have enjoyed a superb week, the supporters too, with the wins over Marseille, Saint-Etienne and Bastia. We are in form and we need to continue in this vein."
Porto v Bayern Munich: Lahm bullish ahead of Champions League test
13 April 2015
Philipp Lahm says his Bayern Munich team-mates will cope with their favourites tag in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Porto at the Estadio do Dragao.
The Bundesliga champions travel to Portugal looking to take another important step in their bid for a domestic and continental treble and are heavily fancied to return home with a healthy advantage.
Bayern are unbeaten on Portuguese soil but, ahead of a re-run of the 1987 European Cup final that Porto won, Pep Guardiola's side have endured something of an injury crisis.
Arjen Robben (stomach), Bastian Schweinsteiger (virus) and Franck Ribery (ankle) will miss out, after Guardiola named just four substitutes in Saturday's league win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
The recent return of captain Lahm has buoyed the runaway Bundesliga leaders, with the German backing his side to progress.
"We are confident enough to say that if we play our game, keep lots of possession and play attacking football, and don't give our opponents many chances, then we will win," Lahm told UEFA.com.
"But they're a dangerous team, with a lot of quality in attack and fast and technically strong players in their squad. We are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League so there aren't any easy teams any more.
"We've just had the international break, so I've had the chance to train for two full weeks and I feel very good. And it's about time to get back into rhythm.
"It's a pity to have missed the round of 16 - that's when [the competition] really starts - but it's nice to be back for the quarter-finals. Being among the best teams in Europe is nice."
Bayern eased into the last eight with a 7-0 aggregate victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, while Porto saw off Swiss side Basel 5-1.
Julen Lopetegui - a former team-mate of Guardiola with Barcelona and Spain - remains in the running to secure both the Champions League and the Primeira Liga during his debut season at the helm.
Porto are without the suspended Ivan Marcano and have doubts over striker Jackson Martinez (groin), but Lopetegui is keen to focus on the task at hand.
"We are prepared for this time of the season," explained the former Spain youth coach.
"Playing the quarter-finals of a competition as big as this one is a reward for everyone and the only thing on our mind is dream and ambition.
Thomas Vermaelen has been named in Barcelona's 23-man squad to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Belgian defender has yet to make a first-team appearance for the Catalan giants since his move last August due to a hamstring injury sustained at the World Cup.
After surgery and months of rehabilitation, Vermaelen trained with his team-mates for the first time since December last month.
The 29-year-old has yet to receive clearance from Barca's medical team, though, so he is unlikely to feature at Parc des Princes.
Full-back Dani Alves has not travelled to the French capital due to suspension, with the Brazilian remaining in Barcelona for treatment on a sprained ankle.
Gareth Bale is fully fit for Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash with city rivals Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Bale was rested for Saturday's 3-0 La Liga win over Eibar because of a knock.
But the Wales forward has shaken off that problem and is in line to feature as Real aim to seize the initiative against a side they beat 4-1 in last year's final.
"Gareth Bale is in good shape, I have a fully fit squad," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
"Gareth Bale had a fantastic season last season and is having a really good season until now. The key to his unbelievable season last year was that he scored in the Copa del Rey and Champions League final. He will be important like he was last year."
Real are winless in their six meetings with the Liga champions this season and Ancelotti is under no illusions as to what it will take to end that run.
"Of course they're a tough team. Defensively they are very strong and they've played well against us in the last few meetings. It's a team we respect," he added.
"They fight from the first minute until the last minute. I want to see my team compete and fight until the very end. That's what I'd like to see from my players."
Paris Saint-Germain's Lucas Moura is confident he can feature against Barcelona on Wednesday and help shackle star man Lionel Messi.
The sides - who both qualified from Group F - meet in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at the Parc des Princes this week after PSG wrapped up the Coupe de la Ligue at the weekend.
Lucas made his return from an adductor injury in the 4-0 win over Bastia as Laurent Blanc's side ensured their first major silverware of the season.
Messi and Barca will offer a much sterner test, but Lucas is eager to retain his place and face the Argentina international - a player he looks up to.
"He was always my idol. I think he’s the best player in the world and he is back above everyone else," the Brazilian told AS.
"It will be very difficult to play against him. We will have to work hard to stop him.
"You have to be realistic and Messi is the best. Of course there is a rivalry between Brazil and Argentina but we are a country of football. So when there are great players we admit that.
"It's always nice to play against them, although I don't know if it'll be for the whole game.
"It will be a challenge and a very close tie. We are all very excited."
Messi scored in both the group meetings between the sides, with PSG winning 3-2 on home soil and Barca prevailing 3-1 at Camp Nou.
Diego Simeone has told his Atletico Madrid side to forget last season's UEFA Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid before the city rivals do battle in Tuesday's quarter-final first leg.
Atletico were heading for a first Champions League title in the 2013-14 showpiece in Lisbon until Sergio Ramos headed home an injury-time leveller that set Real on their way to a 4-1 extra-time victory.
Unsurprisingly, Atleti head coach Simeone was asked about that defeat in his pre-match news conference on Monday, but the Argentinian wants his team to focus on achieving something special this season.
"That [comparisons to last season's final] is normal, for both sides," he said.
"[But] we need to focus on what is going to happen tomorrow. What happened in the past is over. We have a great chance to do something important tomorrow."
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti paid tribute to Simeone in his media briefing, describing him as "one of the best coaches in the world".
Simeone, who confirmed that Mario Mandzukic will start after missing Atleti's last two matches with an ankle injury, repaid the compliment and is looking forward to taking on his opposite number.
"I have a great deal of admiration for him as a person, a respected man who sticks to his principals through victory and defeat and this makes him different," he added. "Carlo is one of the best in the game and I'm proud to take him on."
Atleti are unbeaten in six meetings with Real this season - winning four and drawing two.
