Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona Combined XI: Blaugrana dominance as £150m PSG trio all miss out

Paris Saint-Germain welcome Barcelona to the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night for a mouthwatering UEFA Champions League clash between two of Europe's most attack-minded sides.

Both clubs have made perfect starts to the league phase, collecting six points from their opening two matches with identical goal differences. However, their domestic campaigns have taken slightly different directions, with Barcelona establishing themselves as the dominant force in Spain.

Hansi Flick's side have won all nine of their LaLiga matches, scoring a remarkable 39 goals and conceding just nine. Their tally is 16 goals better than any other team in the division, while a run of 12 consecutive victories across competitions has underlined their outstanding consistency.

PSG, meanwhile, have won four, drawn two and lost one of their seven Ligue 1 matches, leaving them behind Lyon domestically. Luis Enrique still possesses an enviable collection of attacking talent, but Barcelona's early-season performances have given several of their players the edge in individual ratings.

That is reflected in this combined XI, with eight Barcelona players making the starting line-up alongside three PSG stars. Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose reported transfer fees total approximately £146m, all miss out.

Here, Football Whispers reveals the best XI of PSG and Barcelona players this season.

GK: Joan Garcia (Barcelona)

Barcelona's goalkeeping position goes to Joan Garcia, who has earned a rating of 6.8 during the current campaign. While that is the lowest rating in this combined XI, his selection reflects the strength of a Barcelona side that has conceded just nine goals across nine LaLiga matches.

Flick's team have combined attacking dominance with defensive consistency, and Garcia has the responsibility of providing security behind a back four containing two of the most highly rated defenders in this selection.

LB: Nuno Mendes (PSG)

Nuno Mendes is the highest-rated defender in the combined XI, earning a rating of 7.4. The Portuguese international offers pace, defensive aggression and an ability to carry the ball forward, making him a valuable option against Barcelona's high defensive line.

His inclusion also allows Xavi Espart to feature on the opposite flank. Barcelona's young defender has emerged as an exciting option at left-back but can also operate on the right, creating room for Mendes to take his place in the team.

CB: Marquinhos (PSG)

Marquinhos earns his place alongside Pau Cubarsi with a rating of 7.2. The Brazilian has years of experience at the highest level and remains an important figure in PSG's defensive structure, particularly when facing opponents who look to stretch the pitch and attack through the middle.

Barcelona's attacking numbers make defensive organisation particularly important in this fixture. Marquinhos will need to use his positional awareness and experience to deal with the movement of Raphinha and the threat posed by Lamine Yamal.

CB: Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)

Cubarsi completes the central-defensive partnership with an identical rating of 7.2. The Barcelona academy product has established himself as a key part of the club's defensive set-up, with his composure in possession making him a natural fit for Flick's approach.

His ability to play forward passes from the back is particularly valuable against PSG, who will look to press aggressively. Alongside Marquinhos, Cubarsi provides a balance between experience and technical quality in what could be a demanding examination.

RB: Xavi Espart (Barcelona)

19-year-old Xavi Espart scores his first senior goal for Barcelona.

Another La Masia name to keep an eye on ✨ pic.twitter.com/ZXKw2EmPJK

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 13, 2026

Espart rounds out the back four with a rating of 7.2, having made an encouraging breakthrough into Barcelona's first team. Although left-back is his more natural position, his ability to operate on the right makes this selection possible without sacrificing Mendes.

His versatility is a significant advantage in a combined side, allowing Barcelona's emerging talent to feature alongside an established PSG international. Espart's technical ability should also suit a team that averages 70.1% possession, according to the team comparison figures supplied for this XI.

DM: Rodri (Barcelona)

Rodri takes the holding-midfield position with a rating of 7.5. The Spain international's ability to dictate the tempo, retain possession under pressure and protect the defence makes him a natural choice at the base of this midfield.

Barcelona average 3.36 expected goals per match in the supplied comparison, against PSG's 2.50. Rodri's role will be to keep the team balanced, ensuring that their attacking players can commit forward without leaving the defence exposed to PSG's counter-attacks.

CM: Vitinha (PSG)

Vitinha is PSG's highest-rated player in this XI, with an impressive rating of 7.8. His ability to operate in tight spaces, progress possession and dictate the rhythm of a game makes him one of Luis Enrique's most important midfielders.

He gets the nod ahead of a number of high-profile alternatives because of his ability to influence matches without necessarily needing to produce a goal or assist. Alongside Rodri, Vitinha would provide excellent control in the centre of the pitch, while offering enough creativity to help PSG break through Barcelona's press.

CM: Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)

Fermin Lipez completes the midfield three with a rating of 7.5, matching Rodri's score. His energy, intelligent movement and willingness to arrive in advanced positions offer a different dimension to a midfield otherwise built around control and possession.

The Barcelona gem is particularly useful when games become stretched, capable of making runs beyond the forwards and giving opponents another threat to track. Fermin's inclusion gives the combined side a more attacking option alongside the composure of Rodri and Vitinha.

LW: Anthony Gordon (Barcelona)

Anthony Gordon takes the left-wing position with a rating of 7.1. Although his score is lower than those of the other two forwards, his direct running and willingness to attack defenders provide a useful contrast to the more technically intricate approach of Raphinha and Yamal.

His inclusion also highlights how this XI rewards current-season performances, given he has contributed five LaLiga assists in just six starts, rather than reputation or transfer fees alone. Dembele, Doue and Kvaratskhelia have all commanded significant sums totalling £150m, but Gordon's selection reflects the balance of the combined team and the form captured by the ratings.

CF: Raphinha (Barcelona)

That didn't take long 🔥

Raphinha gets Barcelona's Champions League campaign off to a flying start 🇧🇷

📺 Watch on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/bzT89BppkM

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 9, 2026

Raphinha leads the line with a rating of 8.4, making him the second-highest-rated player in the entire XI. His output in the final third has been nothing short of exceptional, registering 17 goal contributions in just nine appearances this season, having played only 646 minutes in all competitions. That's a goal or assist every 38 minutes.

The Brazilian's versatility is another major advantage. He can operate from either flank or through the middle, and his movement gives the combined side a forward capable of linking play while remaining a significant goal threat.

That production makes it difficult to justify leaving him out, even with PSG's wealth of attacking talent. While Dembele has enjoyed considerable success in Paris, he has only scored once in Ligue 1 this season, and Raphinha's current return gives him a compelling case to lead the line.

RW: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Yamal is the standout selection, earning the highest rating in the combined XI at 8.6. The teenager has become central to Barcelona's attacking approach, combining close control and exceptional dribbling with the ability to create chances and score from difficult positions.

Barcelona's remarkable early-season goal tally is a reflection of their collective quality, but Yamal remains one of the players most capable of turning territorial dominance into decisive moments. His ability to beat defenders one-on-one will be especially important against a PSG side that averages 20.9 shots per match, while he is responsible for 19 goals this campaign.

With Raphinha providing the central goal threat and Gordon offering direct running from the opposite flank, Yamal completes a formidable front three.

It is a fitting conclusion to a combined XI dominated by Barcelona, whose form has left three of PSG's most expensive attacking signings watching from the sidelines.