Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha did not beat around the bush before Tuesday's clash with Barcelona. "I think," he said, "all the ingredients are in place for this to be one of the great games." The UEFA Champions League's format switch came with the promise that top-tier matchups would come as early as possible every season and on Tuesday, the competition seems poised to live up to its word. Two favorites to win the whole thing, PSG and Barcelona, will meet in the French capital in the first barometer of their abilities to go the distance but that is merely scratching the surface on the excitement around this particular game.
PSG and Barcelona are not only amongst Europe's elites but they each boast a collection of world-renowned talent, all of whom are poised to showcase moments of excellence no matter which way the game swings. Players like Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal are headliners for teams that prefer to entertain when they take to the pitch, making them must-watches on a regular basis. History proves that these two sides rarely ever cancel each other out, either.
If anything, their similarities only bolster the sheer entertainment every time PSG and Barcelona match up, the pair responsible for several Champions League classics over the years. Tuesday's match is likely to be no exception. It is also on course to become the greatest league phase match ever staged if history even comes close to repeating itself.
Here's why Barcelona's trip to PSG is worth the watch. Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20 | Time: 3 p.m. ETLocation: Parc des Princes -- ParisLive stream: Paramount+Odds: Paris Saint-Germain +145; Draw +350; Barcelona +140 True to form for two teams contending for Europe's top club prize, PSG and Barcelona have each assembled an impressive collection of attacking talent who are worth watching on a regular basis.
Their particular skillsets vary but one thing they all seem to have in common – none of them shy away from the limelight, and so several are poised to create a highlight-reel worthy moment on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes. The most notable among them, of course, is Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. The 19-year-old has nine goals and 10 assists across all competitions to start the season, each goal contribution a reminder that he is already a generational talent even with much of his career ahead of him.
His goal in Saturday's 5-2 win over Real Betis is no exception, his strike from the edge of the penalty area worth watching over and over. Yamal will be a central figure in Tuesday's game, the teenager essentially a make-or-break player for an aspirational Barcelona. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS FROM LAMINE YAMAL 😱 pic.twitter.com/vJb1FyQoEa "The best way to stop Lamine Yamal is to keep the ball away from Barcelona," PSG manager Luis Enrique said Monday.
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