Piqué will play his 50th match as a FC Barcelona player in the Champions League

Gerard Piqué will play his 50th match in the Champions League this Wednesday when FC Barcelona host Paris Saint-Germain for the return leg of the quarter-finals. The centre back, who has featured in the team’s last five starting line-ups, will most likely start against the Parisians as many of Barça’s full backs are injured (Mascherano and Puyol have been ruled out, Adriano is doubtful).

Therefore, if Piqué participates in the match on Wednesday, he will become the seventh FC Barcelona player to feature in at least 50 Champions League games. Only Xavi (134), Puyol (119), Valdés (101), Iniesta (86), Messi (77) and Alves (52) have played more games in the European competition than Piqué.

Two titles and two semi-finals appearances

Piqué’s run in the Champions League with FC Barcelona has been excellent ever since he arrived to the Catalan Club in the summer of 2008. The player has claimed two Champions League crowns (2009 in Rome and 2011 in London) and he’s reached the semi-final round twice (2010 against Inter and 2012 against Chelsea). He’s also scored 4 goals in his 49 games in the competition.

Four games with Manchester United

Before he signed for Barça, Gerard Piqué played four games in the Champions League with Manchester United. His first match in the competition was against Fenerbahce on December 8 of 2004, when he was only 17 years old. He also won the competition with the English team.