Because the reigning UEFA Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain entice main consideration each time they take the sector. That highlight will probably be even brighter this Wednesday, given they’re going through one other high-profile staff in Barcelona. For this important showdown, the French facet must cope with the absence of a number of essential names.
Simply hours earlier than touring to Spain, PSG launched a 20-man squad chosen by head coach Luis Enrique for this decisive Matchday 2 conflict within the league part of the European event.
Probably the most notable absence is Ousmane Dembele. The current Ballon d’Or 2025 winner has been sidelined for a number of weeks as a result of a hamstring damage suffered whereas taking part in for the French nationwide staff through the September worldwide break.
The damage pressured the winger to overlook matches towards Lens, Olympique Marseille, and Auxerre in Ligue 1, in addition to the Champions League opener towards Atalanta. Three weeks after the preliminary setback, Ousmane continues to be not totally recovered and didn’t journey with the squad to Barcelona.
Dembele gained the Ballon D’Or 2025.
PSG’s different absences
Whereas Dembele’s absence is essentially the most vital, it’s not the one challenge PSG are coping with for the time being. Two different key attacking gamers may also be unavailable: Want Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The younger French ahead has missed precisely the identical matches as Dembele as a result of a calf damage and is now within the last part of his restoration.
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Kvaratskhelia’s state of affairs, nevertheless, is newer: he began final Saturday towards Auxerre in Ligue 1 however was changed at halftime by Bradley Barcola. Whereas the membership hasn’t supplied specifics concerning the former Napoli participant’s damage, his omission from the squad touring to Barcelona indicators a critical concern.
Lastly, the fourth main absence for PSG is available in protection. “Marquinhos will endure remedy on a left thigh damage over the following few weeks,” the French facet introduced final Friday in an announcement shared on social media. This guidelines the 31-year-old out of a number of upcoming matches for PSG and sure the upcoming Brazil worldwide break as nicely.
Luis Enrique addresses the accidents
In his pre-match press convention forward of the Barcelona sport, Luis Enrique was requested concerning the accidents to a number of key gamers and provided a candid response. “There are various methods to take a look at accidents — you can also make excuses or discuss outcomes. We give attention to outcomes. Whoever performs will probably be a part of an actual staff, which is what we’re,” the coach mentioned.
Luis Enrique additionally shared his ideas on what to anticipate from the match towards Barcelona: “We goal for a steadiness between protection and assault. When you take a look at each groups, it’s onerous to seek out two extra comparable sides — they assault nicely and defend nicely, and so they take dangers. It’ll be a giant problem for everybody.”
