Barcelona host Paris Saint-Germain this evening in the final that the Catalan giants came within minutes of being in last season, before Francesco Acerbi’s dagger to the heart in semi-final stoppage time. Both sides are missing a number of players for their meeting at Montjuic on Wednesday night (21:00 CEST).
PSG are without Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and captain Marquinhos, robbing them of four starters from that final. Meanwhile Barcelona are without Fermin Lopez, Gavi, Joan Garcia, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Raphinha, but have gotten Alejandro Balde back.
Eric Garcia and Lamine Yamal to start for Barcelona
After coming back from injury on Sunday, Lamine Yamal had half an hour off the bench against Real Sociedad. He is expected to start for Barcelona, as per Sport, as is Eric Garcia. Hansi Flick is expected to go with Garcia as Cubarsi’s partner in the backline ahead of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo.
They also back Flick to leave out Robert Lewandowski, opting instead to Ferran Torres, further establishing the Valencian’s grip on a starting spot. That would mean a fourth start in five for Marcus Rashford on the left of Barcelona’s attack.
Luis Enrique to turn to Champions League-winning midfield
Both Sport and MD expect Luis Enrique to start with Joao Neves, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz in midfield, despite all three being fitness concerns last week. Ilya Zabarnyi is backed to step in for Marquinhos, while Bradley Barcola, Goncalo Ramos and Kang-In Lee make for the most obvious front three available to PSG.
#FCBarcelona host #PSG this evening in the #ChampionsLeague final they were minutes away from.
MD believe it will be Eric Garcia trusted alongside Pau Cubarsi in the backline, against a Luis Enrique side that is missing it’s starting front three from said final. pic.twitter.com/vbDU2u49Gv
— Football España (@footballespana_) October 1, 2025
Their only discrepancy in the Barcelona line-up is Lewandowski; they feel it will be Rashford or Torres on the left rather than the latter through the middle. Wojciech Szczesny is in for Joan Garcia in goal, and Dani Olmo will start behind the striker, in need of a strong performance, while Gerard Martin appears as if he will hold onto his spot despite the return of Balde.
