Draxler: Crucial Red Star match is like a final

PSG midfielder Julian Draxler has said Tuesday's season-defining match at Red Star Belgrade will be like a final for his side. 

Group C in the Champions League will come down to the final matchday, with Napoli topping the group on nine points, PSG in second on eight points and Liverpool in third with six points. 

As Liverpool host Napoli on Tuesday, PSG will face a daunting trip to Belgrade where Red Star, last in the group with four points, await. 

Though Red Star bring up the rear in Group C they have been a tough proposition at home, having drawn with Napoli and defeated Liverpool already in group play.

That has left Draxler and PSG on high alert ahead of Tuesday's match, though the midfielder is in a confident mood after a huge 2-1 win over Jurgen Klopp's side in the last matchday. 

"It’s like a final," the Germany international told Goal. "We have to win there, at least we have to get one point.

"We saw Liverpool and Napoli's games there, it was hard for them and it will be hard for us, but we beat Liverpool at home and we have big players in the team. 

"I’m sure we’re going to win there and make it to the next round."

The pressure will be on PSG, who are tasked with finally breaking through in the Champions League after back-to-back eliminations at the tournament's last-16 stage. 

In order to finally reach the summit of European football, Draxler knows that talent alone won't be enough. 

"The Champions League is very important because all the teams are at a high level like we are," Draxler said. 

"I think that matches like this you don’t win just playing football, you have to fight.

"We showed it against Liverpool during the last match but in Champions League you have to show that at every game if we want to go as far as possible."

PSG defeated Red Star 6-1 at Parc des Princes in the second game of the group stage but Draxler has warned his team-mates that Tuesday's away match will likely be a far different proposition, especially with the Ligue 1 champions coming off back-to-back away draws in league play.

"It will be a different game," the 25-year-old said. "We know we were very strong in Parc des Princes but … during the last games you could see that also in Ligue 1 we had some problems.

"So we know it will not be easy but if you want to go far in Champions League it’s clear that you have to win there."