Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have suffered a major setback ahead of their crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona, with Portuguese left-back Nuno Mendes expected to spend several weeks on the sidelines due to a left thigh muscle injury.

Mendes sustained the injury during PSG’s 3-1 Ligue 1 victory over Strasbourg on Saturday. The Portuguese defender was forced off in the 53rd minute. The club later confirmed that he had suffered a tear in his left thigh muscle and would be unavailable for several weeks.

PSG are scheduled to face Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 20. Mendes had been expected to play a key role in containing Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal, making his absence a significant concern for PSG coach Luis Enrique.

Yamal, who usually operates on the right wing, is known for cutting inside with the ball and creating problems for opposition defences. The 19-year-old has scored nine goals for Barcelona across all competitions this season.

Barcelona have won all 11 of their matches in La Liga and the Champions League so far, while Yamal has also been in impressive form for the Spanish national team.

With Mendes likely to miss the encounter, experienced French left-back Lucas Digne could be in line for a starting role in the match at Paris’s Parc des Princes. His potential inclusion would give Luis Enrique another option as he reshapes PSG’s defensive setup for the high-profile European fixture.