Barcelona vs Paris Preview: Dembélé & Duhé Absent, Barcelona Fearless at Home, Midfield Showdown

At 3:00 AM Beijing time on October 2nd, the second round of the Champions League group stage features a high-profile clash with Barcelona hosting Paris Saint-Germain.

Key highlights of Barcelona vs Paris are as follows:

First:Team conditionsIn the first Champions League round, Barcelona defeated Newcastle 2-1 away, and Paris dominated Atalanta 4-0. Barcelona leads La Liga with a total squad value of €1.11 billion; Paris leads Ligue 1 with a squad valued at €1.07 billion. In the last league round, Barcelona won 2-1 at home against Real Sociedad, remaining unbeaten in La Liga with 6 wins and 1 draw in 7 matches; Paris won 2-0 at home against Auxerre, with 5 wins and 1 loss in 6 Ligue 1 games.

Second:Dembélé & Duhé absent, Barcelona fearless at home, midfield super clashBarcelona vs Paris is a close contest in terms of strength, especially in midfield where a superb battle will unfold. Barcelona’s Pedri and De Jong have developed a seamless partnership, able to find each other effortlessly; Paris also boasts a powerful midfield, with Vitinha and João Neves forming a Portuguese duo known for their strong passing and stamina, combining offense and defense effectively. Alongside Fabian, Paris’s midfield trio is among the strongest in Europe’s top five leagues. However, Paris’s attack is seriously weakened by the absence of two key stars: the newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé and Duhé. On Barcelona’s side, Rashford is integrating well and in excellent form, and the return of the world’s most expensive player, Yamal, further strengthens their attack. Coupled with home advantage, Barcelona’s offensive power surpasses Paris, making them favorites to beat the defending champions for a second consecutive Champions League win.

In the last six meetings, Barcelona have 2 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, slightly trailing Paris.

Injury and suspension updates: Barcelona hasTer Stegen, Gavi, Fermin, Rafinha, Joan García; Paris hasDembélé, Duhé, Marquinhos, Kvaratskhelia (doubtful).