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Javier Pastore has told Le Parisien he is likely to prolong his Paris Saint-Germain stay, while he is seeking a "benchmark victory" in the Champions League at Barcelona on Wednesday. In his first few seasons at PSG, Pastore, 25, struggled to reproduce the form that persuaded the Ligue 1 club to pay 42 million euros to Palermo for his services in 2011. However, employed in a deeper role by coach Laurent Blanc this term, the midfielder has excelled, and with the five-year deal that was signed upon his arrival nearing its end, Pastore is hoping to remain in the French capital. "The club has spoken to my agent. For the moment, there's nothing concrete, but I think that, yes, I am going to extend my contract with Paris Saint-Germain," he said. "That's what I want, and the club wants that too. I leave the talks to run their course, but I'm very happy in Paris. I don't know, I haven't spoken to my agent about it, but the longer, the better." Pastore and his PSG teammates had a final training session at their Camp des Loges centre outside Paris on Tuesday morning, before flying to Barcelona for Wednesday's Champions League encounter. A point will be sufficient for Blanc's side to finish ahead of Barca at the top of Group F, but Pastore is looking for the team to secure a victory in the Camp Nou that will signal a statement of intent. "It's an exciting game and very important to keep top spot in the group," he said. "That will enable to us to come up against a team a little less strong in the next round. But it's also going to allow us to see if we're up to the standard of Barcelona. In that regard, I hope our two quarterfinal exits [in the last two seasons] will serve us well. "The key is to win away to a big team. The day we win in Barcelona is when we'll be able to say we're up to their standard. We're capable of beating the big Ligue 1 teams, but there are seven or eight big European teams, and we have to get a benchmark victory away to one of those. "We're very strong at home. There are the fans, family, certain elements that give you that little bit extra. But it's not the same thing to win at home and to win away."
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