After both teams secured impressive victories in their respective Champions League openers, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain clash in Catalonia on Wednesday evening.
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Due to the ongoing major renovation works at the Camp Nou, Barcelona have experienced a considerable amount of disruption in recent weeks. Having been authorised to start their league campaign with three consecutive away fixtures, the Blaugrana are now hosting domestic matches at the Estadi Johan Cruyff – a 6,000-seater venue located within the club’s training facility – and hop-footing it to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for European engagements.
However, Hansi Flick’s men have dealt admirably with these ambiguous circumstances, winning six of their first seven La Liga fixtures. Sunday’s hard-fought victory over Real Sociedad enabled Barça to leapfrog their arch-rivals at the summit of the table, with Real Madrid having lost out in a thrilling Madrid derby a day earlier. The Catalans also secured maximum points during the first Champions League matchweek, overcoming Newcastle United at St. James’ Park thanks to two fine finishes from Marcus Rashford.
Paris Saint-Germain have continued last season’s imperious form, amassing 15 points from their opening six Ligue 1 contests after lifting the UEFA Super Cup in mid-August. The holders commenced their Champions League title defence with an emphatic triumph over Atalanta, thumping four past the Italians on home soil. The only blot on Luis Enrique’s copybook came in last week’s narrow defeat to Marseille at Stade Vélodrome, which unfolded as the injured Ousmane Dembélé received his Ballon d'Or in the French capital.
Wednesday’s meeting between these two European heavyweights will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 4 from 19.45 (BST), with discovery+ subscribers also able to stream the match via the network’s app.
Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain: Key information
Date: Wednesday, 1st October
Kick-off time: 20:00 (BST)
Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Referee: Michael Oliver (Assistant Referees: Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring, Fourth Official: Andrew Madley)
VAR: Jarred Gillett (Assistant VAR: Bastian Dankert)
TV Channels: TNT Sports 4
Live stream: discovery+ app
Odds: Barcelona: 17/20, Draw: 16/5, Paris Saint-Germain: 13/5
Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain team news
Both managers are burdened by extensive injury lists, with a host of first-team stars missing for either side. However, a small handful of Wednesday’s cast will be returning to action after being sidelined in recent weeks, so it’s not all doom and gloom for Hansi Flick and Luis Enrique.
Barcelona team news
Lamine Yamal’s recovery from a niggling groin issue has provided a major boost, after the immensely talented teenager missed each of Barça’s four matches following the international break. Within seven days of celebrating earning consecutive Kopa Trophies, Yamal set up Robert Lewandowski’s winner against Real Sociedad. Fellow winger Raphinha missed Sunday’s match after contracting a hamstring strain, which will also keep him out for the visit of Paris Saint-Germain.
German international Marc-André ter Stegen is out with a lower back injury, while summer arrival Joan García underwent knee surgery on Saturday, leaving third-choice ‘keeper Wojciech Szczęsny to continue deputising between the sticks. Another player struggling with back problems is central midfielder Fermín López, who won’t return before the upcoming international break. However, Alejandro Balde is once again available for selection, having not featured since Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano at the end of August. However, fellow La Masia graduate Gavi is certain to miss a large chunk of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury during a routine training session in August.
The absence of several key attacking players may pave the way for Marcus Rashford to register a sixth start since joining Barça on a season-long loan deal, after the Englishman claimed an assist in each of his last four La Liga appearances.
Barcelona predicted line-up vs. Paris Saint-Germain (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Wojciech Szczęsny (GK), Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Gerard Martín, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Marcus Rashford, Dani Olmo,
Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski
Paris Saint-Germain team news
Luis Enrique is without two of his prized assets, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia joined crocked forward Ousmane Dembélé on the treatment table. The fleet-footed Georgian was withdrawn at the interval on Saturday night, having developed a hamstring issue during the first half of Paris Saint-Germain’s meeting with Auxerre at the Parc des Princes. Meanwhile, recently-crowned Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé – who is also suffering with a hamstring injury – will be absent for at least another fortnight.
Furthermore, club captain Marquinhos (thigh), Spanish ace Fabián Ruiz (pulled muscle), diminutive playmaker João Neves (also hamstring) and last season’s Champions League final hero Désiré Doué (calf) all remain sidelined.
There is, however, some good news, as influential midfielder Vitinha appears to have shaken off a knock he picked up at the weekend. He’ll likely partner Lee Kang-in and the incoming Warren Zaïre-Emery in the middle of the park, while centre-forward Gonçalo Ramos may well be flanked by French duo Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola.
Paris Saint-Germain predicted line-up vs. Barcelona (4-3-3)
Coach: Luis Enrique
Lucas Chevalier (GK), Achraf Hakimi, Illia Zabarnyi, Lucas Beraldo, Nuno Mendes, Lee Kang-in, Vitinha, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Ibrahim Mbaye, Gonçalo Ramos, Bradley Barcola
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
UK viewers will be able to watch events at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys unfold on TNT Sports, as part of the network’s comprehensive coverage of the UEFA Champions League. The match will be aired on the TNT Sports 4 channel, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 (BST).
Those with a suitable subscription can catch the action on the discovery+ app, which is accessible via a SMART TV, smartphone, tablet, or other compatible electronic device.
Head-to-Head record
Wednesday’s opponents have locked horns on 15 previous occasions, with Barcelona winning six of these contests to Paris Saint-Germain’s five. The first and most recent meetings between these two teams took place almost three decades apart, while both encounters occurred at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League.
After winning 3-2 on aggregate back in 1995, PSG would once again defeat the Catalan giants when they clashed in the last eight of Europe’s most prestigious club competition during the 2023/24 campaign. Raphinha’s double and a towering Andreas Christensen header helped the Blaugrana earn a 3-2 triumph in Paris, before the Brazilian netted the opener in the return leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. However, a brilliant Kylian Mbappé brace and goals from former Barcelona employee Ousmane Dembélé and Portuguese maestro Vitinha handed PSG a famous comeback victory.
Those events in April 2024 enabled the Parisians to avenge their catastrophic Champions League exit seven years prior, when Sergi Roberto’s 95th-minute strike completed Barça’s miraculous comeback following a four-goal first-leg deficit.
Odds for Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Despite entering the tie as the competition’s reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain are not expected to prevail on Wednesday evening. The bookmakers have made Barcelona odds-on favourites, while the likes of bet365 price a Parisian victory at a generous 13/5. A draw is considered by most to be the least likely outcome, although don’t be surprised if these two continental powerhouses cancel one another out.
Match Result odds
Barcelona: 17/20
Draw: 16/5
Paris Saint-Germain: 13/5
The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change. All odds provided by bet365.