# PSG vs Barcelona: Luis Enrique's plan for Lamine Yamal is to keep the ball
_The European champions host the LaLiga leaders at the Parc des Princes with both sides unbeaten in the Champions League league phase._

- Publisher: Apex Sports News (https://apexsportsnews.in)
- Canonical URL: https://apexsportsnews.in/news/psg-vs-barcelona-preview-luis-enrique-lamine-yamal
- Author: Apex Sports Desk, Sports news desk (https://apexsportsnews.in/author/apex-sports-desk)
- Published: 2026-10-20T08:04:21.896Z
- Section: Football > Champions League
- Topics: PSG, Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, Luis Enrique, Champions League
## Summary

Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 20, with both clubs having won their first two league-phase games. PSG will be without the injured Nuno Mendes.

## Key takeaways

- PSG host Barcelona at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, October 20.
- Both teams have won their first two Champions League league-phase matches.
- PSG left-back Nuno Mendes and Senny Mayulu are injured; Barcelona are without Andreas Christensen.
- Lamine Yamal has nine goals and 10 assists this season.

## Article

Luis Enrique knows Barcelona well. He played for the club, coached it and, as he reminded reporters on Monday, his wife and children are Catalan. On Tuesday he brings back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain against them at the Parc des Princes, and his answer to their brightest star is simple: keep the ball away from Barcelona.

That was how the PSG coach described stopping Lamine Yamal, before conceding that it rarely works out that way against a side with Raphinha and Pedri as well.

## Form

Both teams have won their first two matches in the league phase. PSG beat Manchester City 4-2 in their last European game, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring once and setting up another. Barcelona came from behind to beat Galatasaray 4-1.

Hansi Flick's side lead LaLiga and have won every match they have played this season, scoring 48 goals, according to ESPN. Yamal, 19, has nine goals and 10 assists in that run, including a goal and an assist in the 5-2 win over Real Betis.

## Team news

PSG are missing left-back Nuno Mendes and Senny Mayulu, both with thigh injuries. Mendes has been Yamal's usual opponent in recent meetings, including PSG's 2-1 win in Barcelona last year, so Lucas Digne is expected to face him this time.

Barcelona will be without defender Andreas Christensen and forward Roony Bardghji, who are both injured.

## Luis Enrique on the occasion

The PSG coach played down the result's importance. Both clubs are among the favourites, he said, but the competition will really start in April, and Tuesday is worth three points. He also warned against comparing Yamal with Lionel Messi, whom he coached, saying the teenager wants to be himself.

For PSG there is a clear target: they want to be the first team to beat Barcelona this season. In India the match is shown on the Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV.

### Sources

- ESPN: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/\_/id/50217694/psg-luis-enrique-stop-barcelona-lamine-yamal-keep-ball-away
- Khel Now: https://khelnow.com/football/psg-vs-barcelona-preview-champions-league-202610
- Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lamine\_Yamal\_France\_v\_Spain\_7.24.26-142.jpg
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