Paris St Germain are counting on a solid defence as the best means of attack in their Champions League clash with Barcelona on Wednesday, even though they are doing battle on their own turf, said coach Laurent Blanc.
"The paradox for tomorrow is we're going to have to defend well even if we're playing at home," Blanc told a news conference on the eve of the first leg of the quarter-final.
PSG, who are without suspended Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will have to be defensively solid and rely on quick fire counter-attacks, the former World Cup winner said.
PSG's Brazilian defender Maxwell, flanking Blanc at the news conference, told reporters: "They've such good attackers, they need just a single chance and they score a goal".
In a more sober mood than after the away goals victory over Chelsea in the last 16, Blanc acknowledged that PSG also have to make do without several key players.
They will definitely be without injured midfielder Thiago Motta, who picked up a thigh injury in their recent Ligue 1 encounter with Olympique de Marseille.
However, PSG's Brazil centre back David Luiz could return to action after being named in the squad having recovered from a hamstring problem.
Blanc paid a glowing tribute to Barca forward Lionel Messi, describing him as "one of the best players the world of football has known through the generations", adding that he was just one of a formidable attacking trio alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar.
PSG's Champions League record shows the scale of the challenge they face in their quest for superpower status.
The last time the French side got as far as the semi-finals was two decades ago after they beat Barcelona and subsequently lost to AC Milan in the last four in 1994-95 season.
Barca, though, have reached the quarter-finals for the last eight successive seasons.
PSG have nonetheless pulled off some memorable feats on the road to this season's last eight even without towering Swede Ibrahimovic.
They overcame his early red card to eliminate Chelsea on away goals last month.
He was also missing through injury when PSG secured a thrilling 3-2 win over Barcelona in the group stage last September.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich may have been ravaged by injuries ahead of their game at Porto but the squad's sense of unity is stronger, insists midfielder Thomas Mueller.
The Bavarians, chasing three titles this season, are without Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and David Alaba among others for the quarter-final first leg in Portugal.
"For the (recent) games against Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen we had two matches where we played with a decimated squad and with few options," said Mueller.
Bayern beat Dortmund in the Bundesliga before edging past Leverkusen in the German Cup last eight on penalties and looked unaffected by the absences. They also beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 on Saturday.
"In those games we came closer together as a group, as a unit, and that will obviously help us against Porto," said Mueller.
"Now it is not about the injuries but about building a strong unit on the pitch with the players who are there. We are confident and hopefully we can score a few goals."
Five-times champions Bayern will rely heavily on the scoring prowess of Mueller and Robert Lewandowski in the absence of Robben and Ribery as they look to become the first team to beat Porto in the Champions League this season.
Twice winners Porto won four matches and drew twice in the group stage before crushing Basel 5-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.
"I am surprised with their level and we will need two good games to reach the semi-finals," said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola.
"They play an open game ... they have physical midfielders but with great quality. That is also their biggest asset. Their individual quality."
Guardiola added there was no point talking about the Bayern injuries, saying he would simply try his best with the players at his disposal.
"The last two weeks we talked about this a lot but we have this situation and we are here with these 14 players and we will try our best. That's what it is and I won't complain," he explained.
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