Drenthe backs Barca for Champions League glory ahead of PSG

Former Real Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe believes that Barcelona are the favourites to win the Champions League. 

Drenthe claimed Paris Saint-Germain have the strongest team left in the competition, but cited Barca's experience of winning the competition as crucial. 

Hansi Flick's team were involved in an enthralling first-leg encounter with Inter last week, playing out a 3-3 draw in which Lamine Yamal take centre stage. 

LaLiga leaders Barca make the trip to San Siro on Tuesday, hoping to book their place in the final in Munich later this month. 

Indeed, Barca reach the final in 55% of Opta's data-led simulations and are given a 27% win probability of lifting the crown according to the supercomputer, a total only bettered by PSG (42%). 

Luis Enrique's side, meanwhile, take a 1-0 lead heading into their second leg with Arsenal, earning their first win over the Gunners at the sixth attempt. 

The recently-crowned Ligue 1 champions have impressed in the knockout stages of the competition, having finished 15th in the league phase of the tournament. 

PSG have already knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa, while they also recorded a 10-0 aggregate win over Brest in the play-off round. 

"Well, I see Barcelona as the favourites because Barcelona knows what it means to win the Champions League," Drenthe told Stats Perform. 

"I see Paris Saint-Germain as one of the strongest teams, with a lot of quality, a lot of quality, with a lot of speed and also with a great team.

"I think that Luis Enrique has worked very well in the years that he has been there and also that PSG have taken the time to build a team, because he was also suffering in the early years, but right now they have a great team, and they have had players like Messi, Neymar, Mbappe."

Drenthe also added that PSG's Ousmane Dembele was the best player in the competition, despite the array of attacking options at Barca's disposal. 

His winner in the first leg was his eighth goal in the Champions League this season – only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has netted more in a single campaign for PSG (10 in 2013-14).

Additionally, Drenthe highlighted the talented young duo of Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola. 

"I think the best player right now is Dembele," Drenthe said. 

"But, for example, the young players like Doue and the other Barcola, in midfield, Vitinha and those players. I think they have the strongest team."

Drenthe, however, did not discount Inter's chances of upsetting Barca, with Simone Inzaghi's side looking to reach the final for just the third time in their history. 

Inter are unbeaten in their last 15 home Champions League games (W12 D3), their best unbeaten streak in major European competition since a run of 27 between 1980 and 1987.

They've also won nine of their last 11 home semi-final matches in Europe (D1 L1), and Drenthe said that should they beat Barca, they will win the Champions League. 

"Barca can win the Champions League again, and, well, I think a club like Inter, they are like a rocket," Drenthe added. 

If they win against Barca, they will win the Champions League, but it will be difficult.

"I think Barca will be playing great there in Milan, because you have to understand, if you score three away goals, and you still don't win the game, well then, those are things, those are issues.

"That's because Barcelona is a strong club, it's very difficult to win it and also at this time with guys like Pedri, Lamine Yamal and the team they have."