Paris Saint-Germain's quest for a fifth trophy of the year continues on Sunday night when they face Inter Miami in the last-16 of the Club World Cup at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Lionel Messi, who once starred for both PSG and Barcelona, now plays for the American side.
The game will reunite PSG boss Luis Enrique with several players from his time at Barcelona between 2014 and 2017.
As well as Messi, Enrique coached Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano to wins in the Champions League and La Liga.
Inter Miami are the only one of three Major League Soccer teams featuring in the Club World Cup to reach the last-16.
On 31 May 31, PSG lifted the Champions League for the first time after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
In the prelude to claiming European club football’s most prestigious trophy, they won the Coupe de France, the Ligue 1 title and the French Super Cup.
"Look, it's football," said Alba. "The game will last 90 minutes, maybe more and things can happen. So why not believe we have a chance?"
'Playing the best football'
"It's obvious that PSG are playing the best football in Europe at the moment and it will be a difficult match for us but we will fight.
"We know the quality of their players. They're all phenomenal. They can do everything. The back line can play the ball out from defence and the midfielders can hold on to the ball and construct. chances. They're all very good."
Enrique took over at PSG from Christophe Galtier in July 2023 and steered the side to a domestic treble of French Super Cup, Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France in 2024.
He repeated the feat a year later and added the Champions League pot to the trophy cabinet at the Parc des Princes.
"He must be among the best coaches in the world," Alba added. "Not only as a coach but as someone who manages the resources of the team."
Enrique, as well as his present charges, will be aware of Messi's prowess even at 38.
Reunion with Messi
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner arrived at PSG in 2021 to great fanfare. His departure in 2023 was rather more muted as his disaffection and ill-disciplined antics came to the fore.
"It will be a pleasure to see Lionel again," said PSG defender Achraf Hakimi, who arrived at PSG during the same summer as Messi.
"There were a lot of great moments on pitch together, but during the match there aren't any friends. He's going to try and win with Inter Miami and we're going to try and do the same thing."
Inter Miami finished second in Group A. After a draw against Al Ahly, they beat Porto 2-1. Messi curled in a trademark free-kick from just outside the box. They drew their last game with Palmeiras, who topped the group on goal difference.
On Saturday night at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia, they will take on their fellow Brazilians Botafogo who beat PSG 1-0 in their second game in Group B but lost to Atletico Madrid 1-0 to finish runners-up in the pool ahead of Atletico on goal difference.
"We have to look at ourselves and see that there are times when we are not at the level and we have to resolve that," said Antoine Griezmann who scored Atletico's winner.
The former France international added: "We have to focus on what we have to improve and on what we have to do to win these games. It takes work."
As Atletico's players file out for their summer holidays, dozens of their counterparts will be toiling in the high temperatures through the knockout stages where extra-time and penalty shoot-outs kick in.
On Saturday, after Palmeiras and Botafogo clash, Porto, who topped Group C, take on the Group D runners-up Chelsea.
Following PSG's encounter with Inter Miami, Flamengo face Bayern Munich at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
