Nuno Mendes has been officially ruled out of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash against Barcelona due to injury, leaving the French champions without a key asset ahead of the highly anticipated fixture and forcing Luis Enrique to reshuffle his options at left-back.
PSG host Barcelona on Tuesday, October 20, at the Parc des Princes for the third round of the Champions League league phase, after medical tests dashed initial optimism regarding the Portugal international’s availability.
Mendes is suffering from a muscular injury in his left thigh, with the club stating in an official bulletin quoted by AS: “Nuno Mendes will not be available over the coming weeks.” PSG did not specify the exact timeframe for his recovery or an official return date, confirming his absence will extend beyond the Barcelona tie.
The 24-year-old full-back started the match against Strasbourg on the bench before replacing Lucas Digne in the 53rd minute. However, he experienced thigh pain and was forced off near the end of the contest after Enrique had used all his substitutions, leaving PSG to finish with ten men in a 3-1 victory.
His absence carries particular tactical weight as his flank was set to stage a direct duel with Lamine Yamal, one of Barcelona’s chief attacking threats. PSG will also miss Mendes’s forward surges and ball progression; in the previous meeting between the two sides in October 2025, Mendes assisted Senny Mayulu’s equalizer before the French side snatched a 2-1 win.
Lucas Digne emerges as the most natural replacement at left-back, despite facing difficulties against Strasbourg prior to being substituted. Reports also suggest the alternative of rehousing Warren Zaïre-Emery on the same flank, making defensive coverage against Yamal one of Enrique’s most critical tactical decisions ahead of the match.
Medical concerns at PSG do not end with Mendes; doubts also hover over Maghnes Akliouche, who sustained a left ankle injury following a heavy challenge from Guela Doué’s teammate, Abakar Sylla, or Strasbourg’s Jeando Fuchs… (Note: Jeandry Mitchell) against Strasbourg. His condition remains under evaluation, with no official declaration yet confirming his absence against Barcelona or establishing a recovery timeline.
Meanwhile, Senny Mayulu had missed the previous two fixtures against Le Mans and Manchester City with a thigh issue before returning to full team training, while goalkeeper Alessandro Longoni resumed individual work, leaving their readiness tied to their recovery progress. As for Marquinhos, who missed the trip to Strasbourg, he was simply rested and is not dealing with an injury, meaning he remains available for the high-profile clash.
