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PSG-Barça: Flick calls up 18-year-old defender to cover three absences in central defence

Two days before the Champions League clash at Parc des Princes, FC Barcelona are without Eric Garcia, Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen. Hansi Flick has called up Alex Campos, 18, from La Masia, to bolster a defence reduced to six specialist players.

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PSG-Barça: Flick calls up 18-year-old defender to cover three absences in central defence
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FC Barcelona face the trip to Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening with a seriously depleted defence: Eric Garcia (thigh), Jules Koundé (ankle) and Andreas Christensen, already absent for several weeks, are all ruled out for the Champions League match against PSG.

Faced with this accumulation of injuries, Hansi Flick has called up Alex Campos, an 18-year-old central defender from La Masia. The Catalan squad thus has only six specialist defenders: Joao Cancelo, Alejandro Baldé, Xavi Espart, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin and young Campos.

On the Paris side, bad news came from Strasbourg on Saturday: Nuno Mendes suffered a muscle injury at the Meinau and will be absent for several weeks. Maghnes Akliouche, who was hurt in the ankle during the same match, however took part in collective training on Monday, an encouraging sign regarding his availability for Tuesday’s kick-off.

This double confrontation — should the two clubs meet later in the competition — will therefore take place in a context of defensive fragility on both sides, with tactical choices constrained for both Flick and Luis Enrique.

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