This Tuesday, during the third matchday of the 2026-2027 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) will face FC Barcelona (2nd) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9:00 PM, CET). Ahead of this encounter, the press has attempted to predict the line-ups that will be fielded by PSG manager Luis Enrique and his counterpart.
PSG –
Le Parisien (4-3-3):
Kvaratskhelia – Dembélé – Doué
Ruiz – Vitinha – Neves
Mendes – Pacho – Marquinhos – Hakimi
Safonov.
L’Equipe (4-3-3):
Kvaratskhelia – Dembélé – Doué
Neves – Vitinha – Ruiz
Mendes – Pacho – Marquinhos – Hakimi
Safonov.
FC Barcelona –
Le Parisien (4-2-3-1):
Raphinha
Gordon – Olmo – Yamal
Pedri Rodri
Cancelo – Martin – Cubarsi – Espart
Garcia
L’Equipe (4-2-3-1):
Raphinha
Gordon – Fermin – Yamal
Pedri Rodri
Cancelo – Martin – Cubarsi – Espart
Garcia
This is the Champions League—a high-stakes clash in a premier competition, no less. We can expect both sides to field their strongest possible starting elevens, and while there are few areas of uncertainty, some do exist.
For PSG, the absence of Nuno Mendes must be addressed. Options include deploying Warren Zaïre-Emery—who has previously filled in for Achraf Hakimi on the right—or utilizing a specialist like Lucas Digne or Lucas Hernandez; however, none of these alternatives have been entirely convincing, which is a concern given the prospect of facing Lamine Yamal.
This decision inevitably impacts the midfield as well. In attack, Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé are expected to feature, but the identity of their supporting partner remains unclear. At this stage, we are relying on media speculation rather than the actual intentions of the two managers, so nothing is certain. As for Barça, the suspense centers on a defense affected by three absences. In midfield, too, there is a question mark regarding whether Fermin Lopez or Dani Olmo will get the nod. We will have to wait for the official team sheets—released about an hour before kickoff—to know for sure.
