FC Barcelona vs PSG: probable lineups and absences for the Champions League match

FC Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain face each other this Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc (9:00 PM CEST), for the second matchday of the league phase of the tournament. Hansi Flick's team arrives with four absences due to injury, with Raphinha and Joan García being the latest players to join the Barça infirmary.

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitutes' bench, and the injured and suspended players of Barcelona under Hansi Flick for the match against PSG. Complete analysis!

Possible starting XI for Barça against PSG

1. (#25, GK) Szczesny
2. (#23) Jules Koundé
3. (#04) Ronald Araujo
4. (#05) Pau Cubarsí
5. (#18) Gerard Martín
6. (#21) Frenkie de Jong
7. (#08) Pedri
8. (#20) Dani Olmo
9. (#10) Lamine Yamal
10. (#14) Marcus Rashford
11. (#09) Robert Lewandowski

Barça bench (substitute players)

1. (#31, GK) Diego Kochen
2. (#03) Alejandro Balde
3. (#07) Ferran Torres
4. (#15) Andreas Christensen
5. (#17) Marc Casadó
6. (#22) Marc Bernal
7. (#24) Eric García
8. (#26) Jofre Torrents
9. (#28) Roony Bardghji
10. (#29) Toni Fernández

Injured Barça players

1. (#01, GK) Marc-André ter Stegen
2. (#06) Gavi
3. (#11) Raphinha
4. (#13, GK) Joan García
5. (#16) Fermín López

Possible surprises and tactical variations from Flick against Paris Saint-Germain

In principle, Hansi Flick plans to make several adjustments to his XI from matchday 7 against Real Sociedad (2-1), with Ronald Araujo accompanying Pau Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal back as a right winger instead of Roony Bardghji. Szczesny also remains in goal instead of Joan García.

Goalkeeper and defense

• Wojciech Szczesny will be in goal, while Jules Koundé and Gerard Martín will be the full-backs. In the center of the defense, Ronald Araujo should partner with Pau Cubarsí, with Eric García waiting for his opportunity on the bench alongside Andreas Christensen. Jofre Torrents could also have minutes as an alternative on the left, along with Alejandro Balde, who has already received medical clearance.

Midfield:

• As a pivot, Frenkie de Jong is expected to partner with Pedri in midfield, while Dani Olmo would remain as the team's attacking midfielder. Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal are waiting for an opportunity on the bench. Fermín López is out due to injury.

Attack:

• In attack, Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford would complete the Barça attack alongside Robert Lewandowski. The '10' missed the match against Newcastle, and with Raphinha out, he is expected to be in the XI against PSG. Roony Bardghji, who started against Real Sociedad, will be on the bench alongside Ferran Torres.

Barça absences: Which players will miss the match against PSG due to injury?

Raphinha before the Newcaslte-Barça Champions League match.

For now, four Barça players will be confirmed absentees due to physical problems. The club recovers Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde, but lost Joan García and Raphinha last weekend.

The Brazilian will be out for three weeks due to an injury in the middle third of the biceps femoris muscle of his right thigh. The goalkeeper, on the other hand, underwent surgery to treat an injury to the medial meniscus of his left knee. The player from Sallent will spend between four and six weeks in the infirmary, so he could return in early November.

The outlook is much more complex for Gavi. The midfielder underwent arthroscopy and, finally, had to have surgery on the medial meniscus of his right knee. Therefore, the '6' will be out for between four and five months, with February 2026 being the tentative date for his return.

Another who will be out of action until mid-October is Fermín López. The player from Huelva suffered a muscular injury in the left iliopsoas in the final moments of Sunday's match against Getafe and will be out for three weeks. The fourth absentee is Ter Stegen, who will be out of action, at least, until the end of November or the beginning of December.

Possible lineup of Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona

• Initial XI: Chevallier; Hakimi, Pacho, Zabarnyi, Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Zaïre-Emery, Fabián Ruiz; Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos.
• Bench: Safonov (GK), Renato Marin (GK), Lucas H., Mayulu, Jangeal, Ndjantou, Mbaye, Joao Neves.
• Injured: Ousmane Dembélé, Desiré Doué, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
• Suspended: none.

Paris Saint-Germain, on the other hand, also arrives with four significant absences due to injury. Luis Enrique will not be able to count on Ousmane Dembélé, Desiré Doué, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, all undisputed starters and figures of the treble obtained last season.

The Georgian was the last to be injured, last Saturday against Auxerre (2-0). Marquinhos fell last week against Marseille (1-0), while Dembélé and Doué were KO with France during the September break. Vitinha will also be doubtful until the last minute, while Fabián Ruiz and Joao Neves, in principle, will be in conditions to enter the XI.

In that sense, PSG could take to the field at Montjuïc with Chevallier in goal, while Hakimi and Nuno Mendes will be the full-backs/wing-backs. In the center of the defense would be Pacho, Zabarnyi and Beraldo, while Vitinha, Zaïre-Emery and Fabián Ruiz will take care of the midfield. Up front, Bradley Barcola will accompany Gonçalo Ramos.

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