Lucas Digne says Barcelona’s deadly strike force will again carry them past Paris Saint Germain when the teams meet at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday.

At just 23, left-back Digne has already experienced the demands at the top level with PSG in his homeland and Roma in Italy, but nothing comes close to the demands he faces day-to-day since joining Barcelona in July.

“When you are a competitor, you always want to win. This locker room was born for that, this club is made for that,” Digne told AFP in an exclusive interview.

“Every year you have to win trophies and that’s how it is. That’s what we are playing for.

“All players dream of winning trophies, it is that adrenaline that we seek.”

Digne already has the Spanish Super Cup from this season to add to the eight trophies he won in just two years at PSG.

However, much bigger challenges and prizes await with Barca in search of a second treble in three years.

Luis Enrique’s men travel to the French capital for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash on Tuesday just one point off the top of La Liga

and already having booked their place in the final of the Copa del Rey.

Digne was on the losing side when Barca propelled themselves towards a fifth European Cup by sweeping aside PSG 5-1 on aggregate at the quarter-final stage two years ago.

Luis Suarez and Neymar combined for the goals in that tie, but Lionel Messi remains the senior partner in Barca’s frightening ’MSN’ front three.

“Leo is magic. He is the best player in the world,” added Digne.

“When you have the best forwards in the world, it can always make a difference.

“The goal of football is to score goals, so if you have the best attack, for sure it helps.”

Despite an outlay totalling hundreds of millions of euros, PSG are yet to break the glass ceiling of the last eight in the Champions League since owners Qatar Sports Investments took control of the club six years ago.

Domestic dominance wasn’t enough to save Laurent Blanc his job at the end of last season as the owners tired of European failure with Sevilla’s three-time winning Europa League coach Unai Emery put in place.

But Digne believes even more time is needed for PSG to break into the Champions League elite.

The history of a club is very important. I think we have to give them time to build.

“The fact that they have changed staff, they are in full construction of a new project so we must give them time.”

Digne’s decision to move to the Camp Nou with his career trajectory on the rise was questioned with Spanish international and Catalan native Jordi Alba sanding in his way of a regular starting place at left-back.

Yet, Barca boss Luis Enrique’s desire to rotate has meant he has already made 20 appearances this season.

“I’ve played a lot, I’ve played important matches. I’m at the biggest club in the world at 23 years old,” he added.

“A lot of people would like to be where I am today and I’m really happy about that.

“I said that it was a dream to play for this club and that it would be really great for me to have an experience like this.

“Today I am lucky enough to be able to do so. It was in the back of my mind to be able to reach the highest level. Having such a chance is a wonderful thing for me.” AFP

Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel hopes the return of the Champions League will provide the jolt his inconsistent side need ahead of Tuesday’s visit to Benfica in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

The Germans tormented opposing defences and finished above European champions Real Madrid in Group F after setting a new group-stage goals record, but they have failed to reproduce their best form domestically.

Dortmund, who won their lone Champions League title in 1997, fell an alarming 15 points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich following Saturday’s shock 2-1 loss at bottom side Darmstadt.

“I never got the feeling we really got going,” Tuchel said after Dortmund saw their nine-match unbeaten run snapped, albeit a series that included just three victories.

“We were simply a long way below our limit and we have to admit they (Darmstadt) deserved to win.”

Dortmund fielded three teenagers at Darmstadt, with 18-year-old Dzenis Burnic making his German league debut in the absence of injured defensive duo Marcel Schmelzer and Lukasz Piszczek.

But Tuchel predicted Tuesday’s clash in Lisbon would elicit a strong response from his players, with Ousmane Dembele, Andre Schuerrle and Shinji Kagawa all in contention to return to the starting line-up after coming off the bench at the weekend.

“In all honesty, we come into our own when it’s a 50-50 game,” said Tuchel, his thoughts echoed by goalkeeper Roman Buerki.

“On Tuesday, we play against a different opponent with a different way of playing,” the Swiss international added.

Jonas, Jimenez fit again

Greece striker Kostas Mitroglou scored twice as Benfica eased past Arouca 3-0 on Friday to remain one point clear of Porto at the top of the Portuguese league.

Tuesday’s fixture at the Estadio da Luz will be the first meeting between Benfica and Dortmund since the first round of the 1963/64 European Cup, a tie the German club won 6-2 on aggregate.

Benfica, European champions in 1961 and 1962, advanced with the fewest points (eight) of any team to this season’s knockout phase and are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in six years.

Dortmund’s record-breaking 21-goal haul in the group stage was founded largely on thumping 6-0 and 8-4 wins over Poland’s Legia Warsaw, while they triumphed 2-1 over Sporting in Lisbon in October.

Veteran Brazilian forward Jonas, who scored 32 times in Portugal last season, will make his first appearance in Europe this season after missing the group stage with an ankle injury.

The 32-year-old has netted eight goals in all competitions since his return from a four-month lay-off in mid-December.

Mexico international Raul Jimenez made his first appearance of the new year last weekend, coming off the bench against Arouca following injury, and warned of the challenge facing the hosts.

“It is going to be difficult as any Champions League match. We have to be at our best,” said Jimenez, while Peru international Andre Carrillo was confident Benfica’s home support would provide a considerable boost to Rui Vitoria’s side.

Home debutant Robbie Brady scored a memorable free-kick to earn Burnley a 1-1 draw on Sunday (Feb 12) that prevented Chelsea moving 12 points clear at the Premier League summit.

Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso (R) vies with Burnley’s Michael Keane (2nd L) during the English Premier League football match at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England. (Oli SCARFF/AFP)

Brady cancelled out an early strike from Pedro and while the point stretched Chelsea’s lead to 10 points, their advantage will be trimmed to eight points if Manchester City win at Bournemouth on Monday.

Brady’s goal continued his recent run of success against Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, with the winger having also scored the winning goal for Ireland against Conte’s Italy in the Euro 2016 group stage.

“We must be disappointed at the point because I think this type of game we could win,” said Conte.

“It is a pity. We started very well and created chances to score and then Burnley found the goal with the free-kick. Now it is important to restart.

“We know there is a long way (to the end of the season). It is important to work and play this type of game and fight.”

Burnley, whose home record is bettered only by second-place Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea themselves, looked like they might be swept away following an electrifying start from the league leaders.

But Sean Dyche’s team, who had won seven straight games at Turf Moor after losing to Manchester City in mid-November, showed great resilience and deservedly equalised after 24 minutes through Brady.

A foul by Nemanja Matic on Joey Barton on the edge of the area presented Brady, a club-record £13 million (US$16.2 million) signing from Norwich City last month, with his chance.

He took it in style, curling a magnificent 20-yard free-kick over the wall and into the top-left corner. That cancelled out an equally impressive opener from Chelsea that was started, and finished, by Pedro in the seventh minute.

The Spanish winger helped begin the attack deep in his own half with a pass to Eden Hazard who, in turn, fed Victor Moses on the right.

After skipping past Brady’s crude challenge, Moses crossed for Pedro, who had covered nearly 70 yards, and his low, angled shot gave Tom Heaton no chance in the Burnley goal.

FURIOUS TEMPO

Chelsea had threatened to simply sweep their hosts away during a positive opening in which they repeatedly hit Burnley on the break.

But after weathering that pressure, the Clarets began to show why they have become so feared on their own turf.

Ashley Barnes was presented with a couple of half-chances before the equaliser and, soon after it, Andre Gray flashed an inviting low cross through the Chelsea six-yard box.

Burnley should even have taken a lead into the interval after Barton found full-back Matt Lowton, who only had Thibaut Courtois to beat but was denied by a solid block from the Chelsea goalkeeper.

The furious tempo of the game continued after the restart, with a mistake by Matic and an error by David Luiz culminating in Gray gathering Barnes’ pass and shooting straight at Courtois.

In response, and thanks to a Ben Bee mistake at the other end, Diego Costa had a shot blocked before Cesar Azpilicueta chanced his luck with a long-range shot that just cleared the Burnley crossbar.

Burnley substitute Scott Arfield was also guilty of a potentially costly error when his weak clearance was picked up by Hazard, but the Chelsea man’s effort was hurried and well over.

Yet another Chelsea attack ended in similar fashion a few minutes later with substitute Cesc Fabregas slicing a shot hopelessly wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Arfield almost twisted and turned his way through on goal late on, but Luiz’s challenge prevented him from giving Burnley six successive home league victories for the first time in 56 years.

“It was a strong performance against a top, top side,” said Burnley manager Dyche. “I want us to be awkward to play against and be productive and we showed that.”

Source AFP

Wylan Cyprien’s scorching strike kept Nice within three points of Ligue 1 leaders Monaco following Wednesday’s (Feb 8) 1-0 victory over Saint-Etienne.

Saint-Etienne’s Kevin Monnet-Paquet (L) vies with Nice’s Arnaud Souquet (R) during the French L1 football match at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, southeastern France. (VALERY HACHE/AFP)

Cyprien rifled in the only goal after just seven minutes at the Allianz Riviera as Nice bounced back from Saturday’s heavy defeat at Cote d’Azur and title rivals Monaco.

Nice moved back level on points with second-placed Paris Saint-Germain after just a second win in six league matches.

Alexandre Lacazette scored his 19th goal of the season as Lyon produced an encouraging response in the wake of last weekend’s damaging Rhone derby defeat to thrash Nancy 4-0.

Mathieu Valbuena curled in a superb 39th-minute opener with his final touch before hobbling off injured at Parc OL, while Nabil Fekir grabbed a second before half-time.

Lacazette then struck from the penalty spot after substitute Memphis Depay was fouled in the area, with the ex-Manchester United winger netting his first goal for his new club to cap the rout.

Dimitri Payet was set to make his first Marseille start since his controversial return to the club from West Ham in Wednesday’s late game against Guingamp.

On Tuesday, first-half goals from Kamil Glik and Kylian Mbappe ensured Monaco remained top of the table after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Montpellier.

Paris Saint-Germain needed an injury-time winner from Brazilian Lucas to secure a 2-1 victory over Lille after a goalkeeping blunder from Alphonse Areola allowed Nicolas de Preville to cancel out Edinson Cavani’s league-leading 23rd goal of the season.

French Ligue 1 results:

Lyon 4 Nancy 0
Nice 1 Saint-Etienne 0
Angers 0 Rennes 0
Metz 2 Dijon 1
Lorient 1 Toulouse 1
Marseille 2 Guingamp 0
Bastia vs Nantes – postponed

Source AFP