Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs PSG | UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

Barcelona and PSG face off in the UEFA Champions League on matchday two of the competition, and it will ultimately be the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys that will host the grandstand fixture.

The game was initially expected to be held at the Spotify Camp Nou, but delays in the renovation saw the reopening pushed. Later tonight, the two teams will thus take to the field at Montjuic, and it is safe to say the whole world will have eyes on it.

Both teams got off to a winning start to their UCL campaigns, with Barcelona taking Newcastle United down away from home and PSG blowing Atalanta away at Parc des Princes.

The Catalans, however, remain unbeaten all season, while PSG have lost one game in Ligue 1.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs PSG.

The two most in-form teams in the world

Had the final few minutes of Barcelona’s semifinal second-leg against Inter Milan gone slightly differently last season, the final of the UEFA Champions League would have seen the Catalans lock horns with PSG in the finale – a game that many continue to see to have been the rightful and deserved final last season.

As it turns out, however, the French side went on to win the competition while the Spanish giants crashed out of the semifinals. What remains undeniable, however, is that they are the two teams in Europe who play the most attractive and attacking football.

The draw of this season’s UCL league phase, thus, reignited the excitement with Barcelona drawing PSG at home, with many calling it the biggest game of the year.

In fact, the Ballon d’Or race, which recently saw Ousmane Dembele triumph over Lamine Yamal, only furthered that school of thought and amped up the hype. While the former will not be available, Lamine will be.

It is safe to say the hype around the game is anything but exaggerated, with both teams indeed being the world’s most in-form teams over the past year. While PSG are the Ligue 1 leaders with just one loss, Barcelona are the La Liga leaders with one draw and an unbeaten record.

The game later tonight, needless to say, will be nothing short of fireworks.

Dampened excitement

Marquinhos and Dembele are notable absentees for PSG. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

While there is indeed a serious sense of excitement ahead of kickoff later today, it is also safe to say that the hype has been massively dampened owing to injuries in both camps, which will see them without some star players.

PSG is the slightly worse affected of the two as they travel to Catalonia without Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos, thus missing serious quality in attack and a pioneering presence in defence.

Barcelona, meanwhile, will be without Joan Garcia, who recently suffered a knee injury, Gavi, who suffered a setback in his knee as well and Fermin Lopez, who is ruled out after a muscular blow. Raphinha, further, also remains unavailable.

It is indeed a shame for such a massive European encounter to be played without so many key stars fit, for having a full-strength PSG and Barcelona face off would have been a spectacle to behold.

As it stands, however, both sides have their areas of weakness, and it will be a test of who can exploit the other’s weak areas better over the 90 minutes.

A classic midfield battle

Pedri faced the media ahead of the game against PSG and spoke about a plethora of topics, but one matter of interest that he addressed was the impending battle in midfield when the two teams face off later tonight.

“We’re players who like to have the ball, not chase it. The three players who play for each team will be very important and can tip the balance in favour of either team,” he said when asked about PSG’s Vitinha.

As made very clear by the Barcelona maestro, a major part of the result that will unfold on the night will depend on the result of the midfield tussle, and one can expect a high-quality battle in the department.

Both PSG and Barcelona are teams that prefer having possession, and their midfields thus are loaded with technically gifted players.

For the Blaugrana, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong will start as the double pivot with Dani Olmo as the No. 10, all three adept at circulating the ball and being press-resistant.

PSG, meanwhile, have the likes of Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves (provided he is fit to start) or Warren Zaire-Emery, who will look to counter Barcelona’s possession spell.

The battle in midfield, thus, will be critical on the night and perhaps the department to keep the spotlight on over the 90 minutes.