Barca vs PSG: champions clash in Paris with both teams in top form
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- PSG host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night at 19:00 GMT at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
- Both teams have won all their games in Europe this season: PSG are the defending champions and Barcelona have won 11 games in a row.
- The match goes ahead as planned despite protests in France, after the prime minister confirmed it will not be postponed.
PSG play Barcelona in the Champions League tonight. The game is at the Parc des Princes in Paris. It starts at 19:00 GMT.
Both teams are unbeaten in Europe this season. This is the biggest match of the group stage so far.
What happened
This is Matchday 3 of the Champions League league phase. PSG sit at the top of the 36-team table. Barcelona sit just behind them.
The holders of the trophy face the form team of Europe. PSG won the Champions League last season. On Matchday 2, they beat Manchester City 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium.
They led 3-0 inside the first 30 minutes. In their last league game, they came from behind to beat Strasbourg 3-1.
According to Opta Analyst, PSG are unbeaten in 12 Champions League games. They have also won six games in a row in all competitions. They are the team everyone has to beat.
Barcelona have been even more electric in attack. Hansi Flick's side have won all 11 games they have played this season. They have scored 48 goals.
That is 4.4 goals per game. It is the most of any team in Europe's top five leagues.
On Saturday, Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-2 away from home. The week before, they beat Galatasaray 4-1 in the Champions League.
They have now scored at least four goals in four straight Champions League games. No team has ever done that in a longer run.
The game almost became a story about protests instead of football. France has seen violent protests in recent days. There were fears the match could be postponed.
But the French prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, said on Monday that the game will go ahead.
Lecornu said he was "absolutely determined to restore order," according to Al Jazeera. He asked some cities to impose partial curfews to protect shops.
But he ruled out a full curfew across Paris. The interior minister, Laurent Nunez, told reporters there were no plans to cancel the match.
Barcelona travelled to Paris on Monday afternoon as planned. The weekend riots did not spare French football. Marseille said looters caused "significant damage" to their club shop.
Lille said their city-centre store suffered heavy damage and will stay shut. The match at the Parc des Princes, however, is not affected.
Why it matters
This fixture has a habit of producing goals. This will be the 17th time the two sides have met in Europe.
PSG have won their last two games against Barcelona. Only Bayern Munich have ever beaten Barcelona three times in a row in this competition.
Few European fixtures produce this many goals. Only Ajax vs Bayern Munich beats PSG vs Barcelona for goals per game.
Since the 2024-25 season, PSG's Champions League games have seen 134 goals. Barcelona's have seen 130. No other teams come close, and as Opta Analyst puts it: goals are guaranteed.
The Opta supercomputer gives PSG a 39.7% chance of winning. It gives Barcelona a 37.7% chance. A draw was the outcome in 22.6% of the 10,000 simulations.
In short, the game is almost too close to call.
The star of the show could be Lamine Yamal. The 19-year-old has been involved in five goals in two Champions League games this season.
He scored one and assisted four. He set up two goals in each game.
He is the youngest ever to assist two goals in back-to-back Champions League games. Raphinha returns for Barcelona after injury.
The Brazilian is expected to lead the attack in Paris. Anthony Gordon has scored in his five previous starts for club and country.
PSG's danger men are Dembele, Kvaratskhelia and Doue. Each has averaged a goal involvement per 90 minutes in the Champions League since 2024-25. Raphinha has done the same for Barcelona, along with Fermin Lopez.
There is also a personal edge. PSG coach Luis Enrique is a former Barcelona boss. He knows the club well.
His side must stop Yamal. That is easier said than done.
Team news favours PSG on paper. PSG are only missing Nuno Mendes, who is out with a thigh injury.
Barcelona have a full-back injury crisis. Jules Kounde is out with an ankle injury. Roony Bardghji is out with an ACL injury.
Andreas Christensen has a thigh injury. Eric Garcia has a quad problem. Gerard Martin and Gabriel Jesus are doubts.
The predicted lineups, per Sports Mole and Sports Illustrated:
- PSG: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Digne; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
- Barcelona: J. Garcia; Cancelo, Cubarsi, Martin, Espart; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Lopez, Gordon; Raphinha. Dani Olmo could start instead of Lopez.
What happens next
The winner takes a clear lead at the top of the league-phase table. With the new expanded format, finishing high means an easier path in the knockout rounds.
Both teams look sure to go through. But first place matters.
For Barcelona, the tests keep coming. El Clasico is next, just after this trip to Paris. Hansi Flick has won two La Liga titles in his first two years at the club.
A win in Paris before El Clasico would make this the perfect week.
For PSG, this is a statement game. They have won the last two meetings with Barcelona.
A third straight win would send a message to every other contender. They are going for a third straight Champions League crown.
Barcelona's 5-2 win at Real Betis showed they can score against anyone.
PSG's 4-2 win at Manchester City showed they can score anywhere.
Something has to give in Paris.
The game starts at 19:00 GMT on Tuesday, October 20. In Pakistan, that is midnight going into Wednesday.
Expect goals. This fixture almost always delivers them.
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