Nuno Mendes Out, Luis Enrique Hesitates Between Digne and Zaïre-Emery to Face Lamine Yamal

Nuno Mendes will not be on the pitch Tuesday evening for the PSG-Barcelona Champions League showdown. The Portuguese left-back suffered a thigh injury during Saturday’s defeat at Strasbourg (1-3) and will be unavailable for several weeks.

His absence goes far beyond simply filling a position. Nuno Mendes is one of the rare defenders who has managed to cause problems for Lamine Yamal, whether in PSG-Barcelona clashes or in Spain-Portugal duels in recent years. With the Catalan winger in top form and more than ever a Ballon d’Or contender, his designated successor on Paris’s left flank faces a formidable challenge.

That successor will not necessarily be Lucas Digne. Recruited as Nuno Mendes’s backup, the French international had a difficult start to the season before regaining rhythm over the last two Ligue 1 matchdays, against Le Mans and then Strasbourg. But his last face-to-face with Lamine Yamal remains painful: he conceded the penalty in the 2026 World Cup semi-final between France and Spain.

According to L’Équipe, Luis Enrique is considering an unexpected alternative. The Spanish coach could turn to Warren Zaïre-Emery, already used twice as left-back this season, against Lille (2-2) and at Monaco (2-1 defeat). The versatility of the Paris midfielder thus puts him in contention for one of the evening’s most exposed positions — even if, in those two matches, Lamine Yamal was not facing him.