The second matchweek of Europe’s premier club competition kicks off at the Lluís Companys Stadium on Wednesday. The Catalan club will host visitors from France, who are considered among the favorites in this year’s tournament. For Luis Enrique, this match holds special significance — he returns to the city where he once achieved great success, now as the manager of the Parisians and current title holders.
Both teams face lineup challenges ahead of the meeting. There are injured players, and some have only just recovered from recent setbacks. The intense early-season schedule has already taken a toll on the players’ fitness. Additionally, the Parisians recently finished their campaign in the inaugural Club World Championship, leaving them with minimal time for recovery.
Barcelona’s head coach Hansi Flick continues to experiment with his defense. Since the start of the tournament, he has tried various central defensive pairings, with none yet becoming a permanent fixture. Defender Alejandro Balde has been cleared to return, and now the German coach must decide whether to start him from the opening whistle. De Jong and Pedri are undoubted starters in midfield, but there is uncertainty in attack. Lewandowski and Ferran are in good form, but with Rashford and Lamine available on the wings, one of the forwards will likely begin the match on the bench.
Last season, PSG achieved historic success largely thanks to the effectiveness of its attacking lineup. However, this time the team will have to play without Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé, as well as Doué and Kvaratskhelia—all of whom are unavailable for this match. In addition, Marquinhos is also listed among the absentees. These losses could significantly complicate the task for the French side against the opponent’s high defensive line.
The expected starting lineups are as follows. For the hosts, Szczęsny, Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, and Baldé may take the field; in midfield—De Jong and Pedri; in attack—Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Rashford, and Lewandowski. For the visitors from Paris, the likely starters are: Chevalier; Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Pacho, Mendes; in midfield—Neves, Vitinha, Zaïre-Emery; up front—Lee, Mayulu, and Barcola.
The match promises to be intense, as both teams are focused on victory and advancing to the playoffs. Fans are particularly interested in the return of Luis Enrique and how the coaches will handle lineup challenges amid a packed schedule.
