DOHA: Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain will meet in Thursday in the final of the 11th Aspire Academy International Cup for Under-17s at the Mansour Muftah Stadium. The tournament began on Jan. 19.
Eight international teams and academies took part in the competition.
Barcelona reached the final after a 3-1 semi-final victory over Morocco’s Mohammed VI Academy. The Spanish side topped Group B with seven points, drawing 3-3 with Paris Saint-Germain and recording wins over Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol (5-1) and Vietnam’s BVF Academy (3-1).
Barcelona are bidding to win the title for the first time and become only the second Spanish club to lift the trophy, after Real Madrid, who have won it three times.
Paris Saint-Germain are aiming to secure a record fourth title. The French club won the inaugural edition in 2012 and added further triumphs in 2015 and 2018.
PSG advanced to the final after edging Aspire Academy 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in their semi-final. They finished second in Group B with five points after draws with Barcelona (3-3) and BVF Academy (1-1), and a 3-1 win over Kashiwa Reysol.
Earlier on Thursday, Aspire Academy and Mohammed VI Academy will contest the third-place playoff.
