Holders PSG host unbeaten Barcelona as Luis Enrique faces his old club in a clash of Europe’s two best attacks.
Paris Saint-Germain (2.46) go up against Barcelona (2.45) at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday in a top-of-the-table Champions League clash. Both clubs have won their first two European matches, and Barcelona have won all 11 of their games this season.
Two Superb Attacks With Two Leaky Defences
PSG beat Slovan Bratislava (23.00) 6-1 and then won 4-2 at Manchester City (1.13). They scored three times in the first 30 minutes at the Etihad. No away team had ever scored three first-half goals in a Champions League match there.
PSG have now won six games in a row and scored 19 goals in that run. Cracks have appeared at the back, though. The holders have kept one clean sheet in 10 matches and have conceded in each of their last four games.
Barcelona have the same problem. They have one clean sheet in their last seven games. Their attack covers it up. Hansi Flick’s side beat Feyenoord 5-1 and came from behind to win 4-1 at Galatasaray. They then beat Real Betis 5-2 on Saturday.
That made it nine wins from nine in La Liga, a feat last matched by Real Madrid in 1968. Barcelona have scored 48 goals in 11 games, and Lamine Yamal has nine goals and 10 assists.
Mendes Out, Raphinha Back
PSG lost left-back Nuno Mendes to a thigh injury that will sideline him for several weeks. Lucas Digne or Lucas Hernandez will replace him. Maghnes Akliouche trained after an ankle blow at Strasbourg. Senny Mayulu has returned to training, but the match may come too soon.
Luis Enrique rested Willian Pacho, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue against Strasbourg. All six should return. Captain Marquinhos also comes back after missing the trip through workload management. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected on the left wing.
Barcelona have problems of their own. Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji remain out. Jules Kounde, Gerard Martin and Eric Garcia all picked up knocks against Betis. Gabriel Jesus limped late in that game. Raphinha has 14 goals and returned from a thigh problem off the bench, so he should start.
The Midfield Decides It
Both coaches rely on high pressing and fast transitions. PSG usually play a 4-3-3 with Joao Neves as the deepest midfielder. He shields the back four while Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz move the ball forward. Hakimi and Digne give the width, which frees the front three to work centrally. Dembele has played through the middle in recent matches and has scored three times in two games.
Barcelona press in waves from a 4-2-3-1. Rodri and Pedri control how much room the opposition finds. Yamal on the right creates the matchup Flick wants against most full-backs. Raphinha’s direct running exposed Galatasaray’s high line. If Neves matches Rodri’s control of tempo, PSG’s front three will find space. If not, Barcelona will win the ball high and punish the gaps.
History And Prediction
PSG have won the last two meetings, including a 2-1 win in Spain last season. They also won the 2024 quarter-final second leg 4-1 after losing the first leg 3-2. Both teams scored in each of the last five meetings.
Luis Enrique knows what he faces: “We are a machine: that is what I think when I see our players press,” he said.
He also called the match “a good sporting contest”. Flick’s team has been unstoppable, but defensive injuries hurt it. PSG have home advantage and a rested squad. Expect both nets to bulge several times.
Prediction: PSG 3-2 Barcelona.
