Paris, France – Outside the Parc des Princes, fans queued for scarves and gathered for drinks on Tuesday evening ahead of one of the Champions League's headline fixtures. Holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) hosted five-time European champions Barcelona in the league phase, kicking off at 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
Security checks at the gates ran normally and the police presence on site was relatively thin. Nationally, however, a student movement lasting several weeks has brought more than half a million people onto the streets and has at times been met with force.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday that the match would go ahead as planned despite the unrest.
"I'm very glad they didn't cancel the match. How could anyone miss a game like this?" Paul, a 25-year-old engineer wrapped in a PSG scarf, told Al Jazeera.
The protests began as a student movement demanding smaller class sizes, more teachers and a fairer education system. Pupils' discontent quickly spread beyond the classroom, growing into a nationwide movement that led to rioting over the weekend.
Protesters and human rights groups accuse police of using excessive force. A 14-year-old named Eden in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumone suffered a broken jaw after being hit by a tear gas grenade. Another pupil, 16-year-old Mael, lost the sight in his right eye after being struck by a rubber bullet, among other cases.
Authorities have defended the police response, saying hundreds of officers have been injured during the protests. The police watchdog IGPN had opened 34 investigations into allegations of police violence as of last week.
PSG's ultras have a tradition of taking political stances. On 10 October, at the match against Le Mans, the Collectif Ultras Paris unfurled a banner backing the protests that read: "Your militias repress, we the youth resist."
The French Football Federation's ethics body called on fans not to bring political messages into stadiums. Stadium security asked for the banner to be taken down, and a large section of the Auteuil stand walked out before half-time, then returned for the second half.
Fans remained divided on Tuesday.
"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and if the supporters' group, given everything that's happening, wants to show support for the students, that's fine," said Frederique, 52, a bank employee.
Adrien Ridon, 34, who works in construction, disagreed.
"I think football and politics are two completely separate things," he said, adding that he was glad the match had not been cancelled.
"It would be very sad for supporters like us not to be able to come and watch the match against Barca tonight, a big game."
