PSG Host Barcelona in Champions League Clash as Protests Sweep France

The most anticipated group-stage match of this Champions League season, between defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, will kick off at 9pm local time on Tuesday, October 20 (7pm GMT) at the Parc des Princes in Paris. It is matchday three of Europe's most prestigious club competition.

The build-up has been overshadowed by unrest on the streets of the French capital, with the government working to contain violent protests. Even so, fans can still look forward to a compelling contest between the two teams leading the Champions League standings: two-time defending champions PSG host five-time winners Barcelona.

Form guide

Barcelona have made a near-perfect start, winning all nine of their La Liga matches, sitting five points clear of second place and scoring 39 goals in the domestic league. PSG are second in Ligue 1 after seven games with 14 points, behind Lyon on goal difference, with a record of four wins, two draws and one defeat.

In the Champions League, PSG thrashed Slovan Bratislava 6-1 at home in their opener and then won 4-2 away to Manchester City. Barcelona also won big at home, beating Feyenoord 5-1, and came from behind to beat Galatasaray 4-1 away. Both teams have six points, with PSG top of the table on goal difference and Barcelona right behind them.

Both sides come into the match on five-game winning streaks across all competitions. PSG have scored 10 goals in just two Champions League matches this season.

Will the match go ahead amid the protests?

Despite violent protests and mass arrests across the country, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu insisted the match would not be postponed or cancelled. He said he had asked local authorities to impose "partial" and "localised" curfews in some cities to protect businesses, after last weekend's marches turned into the worst rioting in years.

"These curfews must be local and localised. There is no question of imposing a curfew across all of Paris," Lecornu said. At the same press conference, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said there were no plans to cancel the match.

Police have arrested at least 2,400 people across France after violent groups clashed with security forces and looted shops during protests that drew hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating against the rising cost of living and deteriorating conditions in schools.

Prediction and head-to-head

The Opta supercomputer gives PSG a 39.7% chance of winning, Barcelona 37.7%, and a 22.6% probability of a draw.

In Champions League meetings alone, the two sides have faced each other 15 times: PSG have won six, Barcelona five, with four draws.

Players to watch

Ferran Torres and Ousmane Dembele (PSG): Torres, who joined PSG after four seasons at Barcelona, is the team's leading scorer with seven goals in all competitions, including a hat-trick on the opening Champions League matchday. Dembele has contributed across the board with six assists and four goals.

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): With 14 goals, Raphinha is the most prolific scorer in European club football this season, so much so that a short injury layoff did not cost him top spot. Yamal, 18, has impressed with nine goals and 10 assists and is regarded as a rare talent of football's new generation. The two players have scored a combined 23 goals for Barcelona this season.

Team news

PSG

The hosts have suffered a major blow with left-back Nuno Mendes picking up a thigh injury in the 3-1 Ligue 1 win over Strasbourg at the weekend. The club said Mendes will be out for "the next few weeks"; Senny Mayulu is also sidelined with a similar problem.

Predicted line-up: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Digne; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz; Akliouche, Dembele, Doue.

Barcelona

The visitors have been boosted by the return of forward Raphinha and midfielder Frenkie de Jong. Raphinha picked up a minor injury on Brazil duty, missing the wins over Getafe in La Liga and Galatasaray in the Champions League. De Jong has not played this season because of a knee problem that arose at the World Cup. Both were named among the substitutes for the most recent 5-2 win over Real Betis, with Raphinha coming on in the second half.

However, Barcelona's defence is without Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde. Garcia is out for "three to four weeks" with a thigh injury, while right-back Kounde has sprained his ankle and will miss this match.

Predicted line-up: Joan Garcia; Xavi Espart, Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Cancelo; Fermin Lopez, Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Raphinha, Gordon.