19.04.2015 16:05 h

Thiago Motta ruled out of Barcelona return

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta has failed to recover from a thigh injury in time for Tuesday's decisive Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Barcelona, the French club announced Sunday.

The absence of the Brazil-born Italian, who picked up the injury in the league win over Marseille two weeks ago, is a massive blow for the Ligue 1 giants who have to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Spain.

Brazilian David Luiz, however, was supposed to be sidelined for a month with a similar injury, but came back early and even featured in PSG's 3-1 victory of Nice on Saturday, a game where the former Chelsea defender was bestowed with the captain's armband.

Ivory Coast right-back Serge Aurier, who is serving a three-match ban, is the only notable absence in the 21-man squad named by coach Laurent Blanc for the Nou Camp showdown.

Captain Thiago Silva, who was rested against Nice, has been called up while Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti are also back after missing the first leg throughout suspension.