Preview: PSG vs. Barcelona · prediction, team news, line-ups
Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday in matchday three of the Champions League league phase. Kick-off is at 13:00 Mexico City time.
PSG top the 36-team table with six points and a goal difference of +7. Barcelona sit second on the same points and the same goal difference.
Match preview
PSG arrive on a run of five straight wins in all competitions. They have scored 13 and conceded just five in that spell, including recent victories of 4-2 at Manchester City and 3-1 at Strasbourg.
At home, the European champions opened the league phase with a 6-1 win at the Parc des Princes. They had already won 4-2 at the Etihad, giving them 10 goals from two Champions League outings.
Ousmane Dembélé is the main attacking reference. He has three goals in the competition and, according to the French press, three assists in two games. Luis Enrique rotated several starters at Strasbourg to bring a near full-strength side into this one.
Barcelona have also won their last five matches. They have scored 22 and let in six over that period, including a 5-2 win at Real Betis on Saturday and a 4-1 victory over Galatasaray in Europe.
At home in the Champions League they thrashed Feyenoord 5-1, and they won 4-1 in Istanbul. Lamine Yamal has been involved in five goals in two matches, with one goal and four assists.
The Catalans are vulnerable at the back. They have conceded 11 goals this season despite scoring 48, and injuries to Koundé, Eric García and Christensen leave Hansi Flick patching together his defence.
The recent head-to-head favours the hosts. PSG won the last two meetings, both in Barcelona: 2-1 in October 2025 and 4-1 in April 2024. Another win would make them only the second side to beat Barça three times in a row in the competition.
In Paris, though, the record is more balanced. PSG have won only one of their last four home games against Barcelona, with one draw and two defeats. The last Barça visit ended 3-2 to the visitors in April 2024.
Both teams have six points and are chasing top spot in a 36-team table. A result here carries weight in the race for the automatic round-of-16 places. Michael Oliver is the referee.
Paris Saint Germain · recent results
- WStrasbourg 1-3 Paris Saint Germain
- WManchester City 2-4 Paris Saint Germain
- WParis Saint Germain 3-1 Le Mans
- WMarseille 1-2 Paris Saint Germain
- WStade Brestois 29 0-1 Paris Saint Germain
Barcelona · recent results
- WReal Betis 2-5 Barcelona
- WGalatasaray 1-4 Barcelona
- WBarcelona 3-0 Getafe
- WSevilla 1-3 Barcelona
- WBarcelona 7-2 Racing Santander
Key stats
Trends · last 5 matches
Team news
Luis Enrique will be without Nuno Mendes, who suffered a muscle injury in his left thigh against Strasbourg and is expected to miss several weeks. Alessandro Longoni is also out. Senny Mayulu is listed as a doubt by UEFA, although other outlets rule him out.
Warren Zaïre-Emery is the favourite to fill in at left-back, with Lucas Digne an alternative. Hakimi, Marquinhos, Vitinha and Dembélé, who rested or started on the bench at Strasbourg, return to the XI. João Neves and Kvaratskhelia are also expected to start.
Hansi Flick has four injury absentees in Andreas Christensen, Eric García, Jules Koundé and Roony Bardghji. Koundé and García were hurt against Betis. Gerard Martín has been carrying discomfort but is in the squad.
Xavi Espart is set for the right-back slot. Raphinha, back from his muscle problem, should return as a starter through the middle of the attack.
This is a meeting of two attacks in superb form, with home advantage for PSG and a badly depleted Barcelona back line. We expect goals at both ends: Barça looking for space through Yamal and Raphinha, and PSG answering through Dembélé. A draw reflects how evenly matched the sides look.
Match odds
+18