Spanish papers bill Barcelona vs PSG as ‘ultimate showdown’ between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe

‘The present vs the future’: Spanish papers bill Barcelona vs PSG as ‘ultimate showdown’ between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe with Catalans adamant Champions League tie isn’t a Paris audition for the Argentine superstar

  • Barcelona take on PSG in first leg of Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday
  • Spanish sports dailies have billed it as Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe showdown
  • With Neymar injured and unable to return to the Nou Camp, Mbappe is the star
  • Barcelona are insisting two-legged tie isn’t a PSG audition for the Argentine
  • Mauricio Pochettino is quoted as saying PSG are ‘obsessed’ with European glory 

The Champions League meeting of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain has been boiled down to a showdown between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe – at least according to the Spanish newspapers.

All the sports dailies feature the two superstars on their front covers on Tuesday morning, ahead of the round of 16, first leg clash at the Nou Camp.

It may be a little unfair on everyone else involved to boil such a titanic contest down to just two men but that’s certainly the favoured narrative as a legend who has won the Champions League four times faces a young pretender dreaming of a first triumph.

PSG striker Kylian Mbappe smiles as he trains at the Nou Camp on the eve of the first leg

The Champions League last-16 tie between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain has been billed by the Spanish press as a clash between Lionel Messi (left) and Kylian Mbappe (right)

'Mbappe challenges Messi' is the headline on Tuesday's cover of Diario AS ahead of the game

‘Mbappe challenges Messi’ is the headline on Tuesday’s cover of Diario AS ahead of the game

‘Mbappe challenges Messi’ is the headline on Tuesday’s Diario AS front cover. ‘The two global superstars are set for a huge showdown.’

The French striker, described as a ‘Real Madrid target’, is set to play in Catalonia for the first time in his career with the game happily billed as a test of whether Mbappe can become football’s next Messi-esque star.

‘Something big is coming’, say Marca with close-ups of the two players’ faces. ‘It’s the present v the future’ is how they describe the match-up.

There’s also mention of PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino, returning to a familiar city having played for and managed Espanyol earlier in his career.

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has a quiet word with Mbappe during training on Monday

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has a quiet word with Mbappe during training on Monday

Marca features close-ups of the two stars and the headline 'Something big is coming'

Marca features close-ups of the two stars and the headline ‘Something big is coming’ 

He has claimed that PSG are ‘obsessed’ with winning the Champions League, even more so having narrowly lost out on the main prize in European football to Bayern Munich last season.

Mundo Deportivo also describe the contest as ‘the ultimate’ with pictures of the key protagonists on their front cover.

They focus on Ronald Koeman and his faith that his players have what it takes to get the better of PSG despite what has been an underwhelming season.

Barcelona are also confident the visit of PSG won’t turn into an audition for Messi ahead of an anticipated summer move away – for the reason that they don’t plan to let him leave.

The two players are also on Mundo's front cover, with the game described as 'the ultimate'

The two players are also on Mundo’s front cover, with the game described as ‘the ultimate’

Diario Sport also have an eye-catching front cover ahead of the Champions League showdown

Diario Sport also have an eye-catching front cover ahead of the Champions League showdown

‘Champions Deluxe’ says the cover of Diario Sport with an eye-catching Champions League-themed backdrop and, you’ve guessed it, pictured of Messi and Mbappe.

They are the only ones to prominently mention that Neymar will not be returning to his old club for the first leg as he is out with a thigh injury.

You suspect the Brazilian might have won a little more cover space had he been coming back.