Paris Saint-Germain players arrived in Barcelona this morning ahead of their second-leg quarterfinal tie this evening.
The stakes are high, with PSG looking for a victory over a two-goal margin after succumbing to a 2-3 loss in the first leg.
Ousmane Dembele is one of the players in focus heading into this high-octane clash, with PSG banking on the Frenchman to provide the goods in the final third.
Cold welcome for Dembele in Barcelona
Amidst the anticipation, the atmosphere turned tense as PSG’s bus pulled up to the iconic W Hotel, where the team is lodged.
And quite unsurprisingly, Dembele, former Barcelona player turned adversary, felt the sting of hostility as he stepped onto Barcelona soil, reports Diario SPORT.
Despite attempting to evade attention by donning a hood, Dembele’s presence did not go unnoticed. He was welcomed with a series of insults by the home fans, which served as a stark reminder of the hostility that is yet to come.
Why such a cold reception?
After scoring a goal in the first leg, it was thought that Dembele would not celebrate against his former team. The player, after all, spent six years in Catalonia and his success under Xavi played a crucial role in earning him a move to PSG last summer.
Dembele, however, celebrated with rage after scoring a goal against Barcelona in the first leg – something that has not been taken well by the Barcelona faithful.
The Frenchman is sure to face much more hostility from fans when PSG take on Barcelona this evening.
On the flip side, though, Dembele’s teammate Kylian Mbappe received much adoration from the Barça fans despite his links to Real Madrid.
This will be the second time the French international plays in Barcelona after his hat-trick in 2021.
