Archive: the Parc des Princes for PSG v Real Madrid, 6 March 2018. Photo: Kilyac / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and cropped for display; the photograph remains under the same licence.
Barcelona take a perfect start to the season into Paris on Tuesday, with the winners of the last two Champions League titles standing between them and a twelfth consecutive victory.
Hansi Flick's side have won all 11 competitive matches this season and scored 48 goals. Paris Saint-Germain have their own momentum: six straight wins, including last week's 4–2 victory at Manchester City.
They meet at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday 20 October, with kick-off at 8pm BST, 9pm local time. Both have won their opening two Champions League league-phase matches.
Barça's goals keep coming
Nine La Liga wins and two in Europe have made this a relentless start for Barcelona. Saturday's 5–2 victory at Real Betis was the latest example, following a 4–1 success away to Galatasaray four days earlier.
Their other Champions League result was a 5–1 home win over Feyenoord. That is nine goals in two European games, but Paris offer a very different examination from the opponents Barça have already beaten.
Flick acknowledged the challenge at his Monday press conference, praising Luis Enrique's work and the football his team play. He wants Barcelona to embrace it: “I want my team to play with confidence, courage and togetherness.”
Paris have found their stride
PSG's domestic campaign began with draws at Rennes and Lille, then a home defeat by Monaco. Since then, they have won every game across Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
A 6–1 win over Slovan Bratislava began that six-match sequence. Victories over Brest, Marseille and Le Mans followed, before the win at City and Saturday's 3–1 success at Strasbourg.
The two European victories have brought ten goals. For Barcelona, this is not simply a test of whether their attack can keep scoring: they must also contain a side that put four past City away from home.
Two defensive absences for Flick
Eric Garcia and Jules Koundé will miss the game after both picked up problems against Betis. Barcelona confirmed neither defender was included for the trip to Paris.
Flick has named Frenkie de Jong and Rodri as possible cover in defence. Up front, Raphinha is available and the coach said he could start. That offers an attacking option, but Barcelona still have decisions to make at the back.
There is no knockout place being decided tonight: this is the third game of the league phase. The immediate prize is a third European win, and for Barça the chance to keep a remarkable winning start intact against the holders.
Follow tonight's games on our fixture schedule, or catch up with the latest results.
Sources: Barcelona's winning-run update, Flick's pre-match comments and PSG's match preview.
