Barcelona’s defensive absences loom ahead of PSG test

Barcelona's defensive absences are of concern as they prepare for their upcoming Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. Both teams currently hold a six-point lead over their upcoming opponents in the league phase. Barcelona aims for a third consecutive league-phase victory, while PSG enters the fixture as two-time defending champions.

However, Barcelona's defensive availability is a significant concern, with Andreas Christensen, Roony Bardghji, Jules Kounde, and Eric Garcia all listed as out for the game. For PSG, Nuno Mendes is absent, with Magnes Akliouche and Senny Mayulu also among the doubts. The lineups for both teams remain projections rather than confirmed teams.

Barcelona is expected to field a 4-3-3 formation, while PSG is projected to have a defense led by Safonov, with Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, and Digne in front of Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián. The preview predicts a 3-3 draw, and while a victory for Barcelona would be a significant test against elite opposition, it should not be viewed as a verdict on their broader European campaign.

The referee for the match will be Michael Oliver of England, with Marco Di Bello of Italy acting as VAR. After this fixture, Barcelona will face their next major challenge in the El Clásico.