PSG's Nuno Mendes Out for Several Weeks With Thigh Injury, Will Miss Barcelona Clash

Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes will be out for several weeks with an injury to his left thigh, the club confirmed on Sunday, October 18. He will miss PSG's Champions League match against Barcelona at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, October 20.

Mendes picked up the problem in PSG's 3-1 comeback win at Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Saturday. PSG said in a medical statement that, after sustaining an injury to his left thigh in the match, the Portugal international would be out of action for the coming weeks. The Associated Press reported that the injury is a tear in the left thigh.

After the match, coach Luis Enrique had been cautious when asked about Mendes. He said he was not sure it could be called an injury, and explained that he preferred not to take a risk with his full-back. Tests on Sunday showed the problem was more serious than first thought.

The timing is a major blow for Luis Enrique. Mendes would likely have been given the task of marking Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal in the match, which is Matchday 3 of the Champions League league phase. Yamal was in outstanding form last week, when he provided two assists in Barcelona's 4-1 win at Galatasaray, and he scored in Barcelona's 5-2 league win at Real Betis on Saturday. The Spanish coach, who led Barcelona to the Champions League title in 2015, must now find another way to cover that side of the pitch.

PSG arrive at the match having lost 4-2 away to Manchester City in their previous Champions League game on October 14. The win at Strasbourg lifted them back to the top of Ligue 1.

Barcelona have injury problems of their own. Hansi Flick will be without defender Jules Koundé, who has an ankle sprain, and Eric García, who is recovering from a muscle injury.