Preview: PSG face Barça in Champions League blockbuster
The back-to-back European champions host Spain's lawless leaders The Champions League holders are back in stellar form after a poor start to the Ligue 1 season and Luis Enrique 's star-studded squad come in to the game on an impressive six-match winning streak across all competitions, including a couple of high-scoring victories on the continent. Paris Saint-Germain putsix past Slovan Bratislavaandfour past Manchester City, respectively, to set a new competition record for goals scored after two rounds of the league phase.
The Parisians are averaging 3.1 goals on their current run and are undefeated against Barcelona in the previous two meetings between the sides. Remarkably, the reigning LaLiga champions are in even more impressive form than PSG, as Barça are on an 11-match winning streak, or more precisely, celebrating a victory in each and every match this campaign.
Furthermore, the in-form Raphinha & co. have scored an incredible 48 goals in total, averaging 4.3 per match, which is by some distance the highest across Europe's top 5 leagues.
In the Champions League, no club is enjoying more time on the ball (71.3% possession) or completing more accurate passes per match (686.5) than the Blaugrana. Recent H2H meetings Key players Ousmane Dembélé is waiting to find out whether he will keep hold of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for another year, but the 29-year-old is already strengthening his case to be a strong contender at next year's ceremony.
The French international is averaging a FotMob rating of 9.04 in the Champions League and no player is boasting more goals and assists (six) in the competition. Lamine Yamal is one behind on five.
Further confirmation of his exceptional form came in the form of hiscameo off the bench against Strasbourgon Saturday, when the lethal forward scored a goal and recorded an assist in just 27 minutes spent on the pitch. Frenkie de Jong returned to the Barcelona squad over the weekend, for the first time since May, and the comeback of the 29-year-old will provide a timely boost for Hansi Flick amid the mounting injuries and the busy schedule.
With only Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín being available at centre-back, it will be no surprise if the Netherlands international or Rodri fill in at the heart of the defence given their qualities and rich experience. Last, but definitely not least, the former Ajax prodigy (297 apps) is closing in on a landmark 300th appearance in the Blaugrana shirt and the midfielder is set to play a vital role once again this season.
Team news Eric García and Jules Koundé did not make the trip to Paris after getting injured against Real Betis, giving Flick a headache with Andreas Christensen also sidelined. On a positive note, Frenkie de Jong is back and ready to play.
For PSG, Nuno Mendes will miss Tuesday's clash due to a thigh injury and the same goes for Senny Mayulu, but Maghnes Akliouche is fit after an injury scare on Sunday and everyone else should be available. Prediction With both PSG and Barça in free-scoring form and most of their past meetings being goal fests, I expect more of the same at the Parc des Princes.