Barcelona's Defensive Crisis Deepens as Kounde, Eric Garcia and Christensen All Miss PSG Trip

Three Defenders Sidelined for the Biggest Week of the Season

Barcelona's defensive problems have intensified ahead of a pivotal stretch in the 2026-27 season, with the club confirming on the eve of the PSG fixture that Jules Kounde would miss the Champions League showdown against the holders.

Eric Garcia has been ruled out for three to four weeks, and Barcelona remain without Andreas Christensen through injury, leaving Hansi Flick desperately short of options at the back for a run of fixtures that includes both a European away trip and El Clasico.

In a previous update, the club had indicated that Garcia's return would "depend on how his injury progresses," while there was no immediate news on Gerard Martin, who had also felt discomfort against Real Betis. That uncertainty has now been partly resolved, with Martin included in the travelling party to France.

Youth Thrown Into the Fire

The shortage has opened the door for 18-year-old Alex Campos, who has been called up for the trip to the Parc des Princes. Joao Cancelo, Xavi Espart, Alejandro Balde and Pau Cubarsi are the other defenders named in the squad, and Flick may yet turn to Rodri or Frenkie de Jong to slot into central defence if needed.

PSG, managed by former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, represent one of the toughest tests in European football, making the makeshift rearguard a particular concern.

El Clasico Offers a Chance to Pull Clear

However the Paris assignment unfolds, attention will quickly shift to Sunday's El Clasico, where a win over Real Madrid would move Flick's side nine points clear of Los Blancos in the title race. Navigating both games with a depleted backline could prove decisive to the shape of Barcelona's season.