Luis Enrique believes Paris St Germain’s Champions League clash with Liverpool will be “50-50”.
The French champions were paired with the Premier League leaders in Friday’s draw for the last 16.
“I think we are going to face one of the best Liverpool sides of recent seasons,” the PSG boss said.
“It will be one of the great match-ups of the round of 16, and one of the most interesting. But I am delighted because these are two very high-level teams. It will be an exciting match. It will be 50-50.”
Paris vs Liverpool 🍿#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/SL9LwWqpUl
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 21, 2025
Luis Enrique was speaking at a press conference ahead of his side’s Ligue 1 trip to Lyon on Sunday.
Lyon currently lie sixth, 20 points behind the pacesetters, and recently appointed Paulo Fonseca to replace Pierre Sage as boss.
“Of course, it will be difficult,” Luis Enrique said of the clash at Groupama Stadium. “They recently changed their coach, so they are still working on their connections.
“But an away game is always complicated. We know the strengths of this team, which knows how to vary its play well.
⚽️ 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞
🆚 Olympique Lyonnais🗓️ 23/02 – 20h45 #OLPSG I @visitrwanda_now pic.twitter.com/HhEYt2rbCD
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) February 21, 2025
“Lyon is one of the best teams in the league, and they are also playing well in Europe. We expect a tough match.
“With Fonseca, they will have this trigger to improve. There will be several challenges to overcome: the first is to take the ball from them.
“When they have the ball, they are an armed and dangerous team. We have already played them several times, we need to have a high level.”
The build-up to the clash has been overshadowed by a reported bust-up between the club presidents, Nasser Al-Khelaifi of PSG and Lyon’s John Textor, over a TV deal.
“I will tell you very simply. Each president defends his club in the best possible way,” said Luis Enrique.
Getting ready. pic.twitter.com/V6fSbnukM8
— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) February 20, 2025
“I am very proud that Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is our president, each of the presidents has his interests and defends his interests. I like that our club defends its interests.”
Former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, who has scored seven goals for Lyon this season, is an injury doubt for the hosts.
Fonseca told reporters: “He is not 100 per cent. “He is training, making efforts but he has pain.
“He needs time to get back to 100 per cent. There are few players with such quality in the last 30 metres and this goalscoring instinct.”
