Nuno Mendes Ruled Out of Barcelona Clash as PSG Sweat on Defensive Crisis

Paris Saint-Germain have been hit with a defensive hammer blow three days before their biggest game of the season. Nuno Mendes, the club's star left-back, suffered a thigh muscle injury during Saturday's 3-1 Ligue 1 win at Strasbourg and is expected to miss Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes. According to Le Parisien, Sunday morning medical tests diagnosed a muscular injury in the Portuguese defender's thigh, making him a major doubt — bordering on ruled out — for the visit of the in-form Catalans. PSG are yet to issue a formal medical bulletin, but with barely 72 hours between the final whistle in Strasbourg and kick-off on Tuesday, there is simply no time to take risks. The injury could hardly have come at a worse moment. Mendes, 24, had started the game on the bench and was introduced early in the second half for Lucas Digne, only to pull up in the closing minutes and head straight down the tunnel. Because Luis Enrique had already used all of his substitution windows, the reigning European champions were forced to finish the match with ten men — though late goals from Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue still sealed all three points. Speaking after the game, Enrique tried to stay calm: "I hope it's nothing serious. We didn't want to take any risks." Initial reports on Saturday night, via RMC, had even suggested the issue was only minor thigh discomfort. Sunday's scans told a different story. Mendes is not PSG's only worry. Mundo Deportivo reports that Maghnes Akliouche also picked up muscle discomfort against Strasbourg and is doubtful, leaving Enrique scrambling for solutions on both flanks. The timing is brutal: Barcelona arrive in Paris on the back of eleven straight wins in all competitions, with Lamine Yamal — the very winger Mendes would most likely have been tasked with shackling — in devastating form. Barcelona have problems of their own. Andreas Christensen remains sidelined, while Gerard Martin, Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde all picked up knocks in the 5-2 win at Real Betis. But losing Mendes, arguably the best attacking left-back in Europe, tilts the balance of Tuesday's tie. The Parc des Princes will host the champions of Europe against the most in-form team on the continent — and PSG may have to do it without one of their most important players. Read more: Man City vs PSG: the other big UCL night | UCL Matchday 2 preview #NunoMendes #PSG #Barcelona #UCL #Football