Kylian Mbappe all smiles during training as PSG take on Messi's Barcelona in Champions League - in pictures

Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be without Neymar and Angel Di Maria

Paris Saint-Germain's manager Mauricio Pochettino with star striker Kylian Mbappe during a training session at Camp Nou ahead of the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Barcelona. EPA

Kylian Mbappe during a training session at Camp Nou. EPA

Paris Saint-Germain's forward Kylian Mbappe, midfielder Leandro Paredes and Marco Verratti attend a training session. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's forward Kylian Mbappe during training at Camp Nou. AFP

Mauricio Pochettino on the eve of the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Barcelona. AFP

Mauricio Pochettino with Mauro Icardi during training. Reuters

Paris Saint-Germain's midfielder Rafinha trains in Barcelona. AFP

Marco Verratti goes through a warm-up routine during a training session at Camp Nou. EPA

PSG players train at Camp Nou. EPA

Idrissa Gana Gueye and Moise Kean train at Camp Nou. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe will be in the spotlight when they face Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 first leg tie on Tuesday without Neymar and Angel Di Maria.

Although Mbappe is the Ligue 1 top scorer with 16 goals this season, he has largely failed to fire at the European stage with just two goals and he has not scored in the knockout stage since a 2-0 win at Manchester United in the last 16 in 2019. And if he is under any pressure, he did not let in show during training on Monday.

But manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is expected to field Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia or Moise Kean alongside the 22-year-old Mbappe, said he was pleased with the France striker's form.

"Clearly we're missing important players but we have a team and players who are responsible," Pochettino, who took over from the sacked Thomas Tuchel at the beginning of the year, said on Monday.

"As for Mbappe, I expect from him what I always expect from great players. I'm very happy with his performances since I arrived."

Neymar suffered a thigh problem in last week's French Cup win at Caen while Di Maria has a similar injury which he picked up in the Ligue 1 victory away to Olympique Marseille on February 7.

PSG and Barcelona have not met since the French champions were thrashed 6-1 at the Camp Nou in the last 16 in 2017 after winning the first leg 4-0.