Le Paris Saint-Germain and the FC Barcelone face off this Wednesday evening in the Champions League in a top-of-the-table clash. However, both clubs arrive with squads seriously depleted by a series of injuries.
PSG: a massacre of injuries
PSG are going through a difficult period with a series of injuries affecting their squad. Key players such asOusmane Dembélé, Ballon d'Or 2025, Joao Neves, Désiré Doué and Marquinhos were all forced to withdraw. These successive absences have hampered the team's preparation for this prestigious match against FC Barcelona. Coach Luis Enrique expressed his frustration at the situation, stressing that these injuries are due to trauma accumulated during the previous long and trying season.
Notable absences at Barça
Several key Barça players are also out due to injuries. The starting goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, is unavailable due to a back problem, while his replacement Joan Garcia suffers a torn meniscus and will be out for several weeks.
The midfielder Gavi will not be able to play, having undergone knee surgery, and Fermin Lopez remains out of the squad due to a groin injury. In attack, Raphinha is also out due to a muscle problem in his right thigh.
Yesterday, OM won their first home Champions League match since 2012.
Here, Marseille beat Ajax 4-0, securing their first home Champions League victory since February 22, 2012. On that day, Marseille had beaten Inter Milan 1-0 in the first leg of the round of 16 at the Stade Vélodrome. Since then, OM had suffered a run of 13 consecutive home defeats in the Champions League, a negative record in the modern era of the competition. This victory against Ajax therefore ended a drought of more than 13 years without European success at home for the Marseille club.
Among other results, the Real Madrid crushed Kairat 5-0, thanks to a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappé, while theAtletico Madrid won 5-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern Munich beat Pafos 5-1, with two goals from Harry Kane.
La surprise of the evening came from Liverpool, beaten 1-0 by Galatasaray, relaunching the debate on the competitiveness of English clubs in this Champions League.
What is the main fact?
Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona face off this Wednesday evening in the Champions League in a top-of-the-table match. However, both clubs arrive
Why is this topic controversial?
Because of the sporting stakes and the positions taken by the protagonists.
