Barcelona heads to PSG clash with hopes and a suitcase hiccup
On Tuesday morning, April 9, the FC Barcelona players set off for Paris for the opening match of the Champions League quarterfinal against PSG. A minor hiccup saw Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong almost leave Spain without his suitcase, an incident captured by the Catalan media.
5:38 PM EDT, April 9, 2024
This season hasn’t been particularly kind to FC Barcelona. They again missed the opportunity to clinch the Spanish Super Cup and were eliminated from the King's Cup competition. With eight rounds remaining in La Liga, they trailed Real Madrid by eight points.
Given these setbacks, defending their title appears to be a formidable challenge for the team affectionately known as the Pride of Catalonia. However, their journey in the Champions League shines as a beacon of hope. After failing to advance beyond last year's group stage, Barcelona has made it to the quarterfinals, keeping their dreams of ultimate victory alive.
Xavi, who will be stepping down as Barcelona's coach at the season's end, and his team are gearing up to face Paris Saint-Germain. A victory against the French champions would see them competing against the winner of the Borussia Dortmund - Atletico Madrid match for a spot in the semifinals.
The eagerly anticipated face-off between Barca and PSG is set for Wednesday, April 10, in Paris. The Barcelona squad embarked on their journey to the French capital on Tuesday morning, though not without a slight glitch involving one of their players.
After making it through the gates, Frenkie de Jong realized he had left his suitcase behind. A journalist from the Catalan newspaper Sport caught this forgetful moment on camera.
The Dutch player quickly retrieved his missing bag and joined his teammates on the bus, which ferried them to the plane without further ado. Thankfully, the incident didn't escalate into a significant issue.
