Achraf Hakimi didn’t just talk about Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to Barcelona. He set the storyline. Speaking in the pre-match press conference, the Moroccan defender placed the spotlight firmly on Lamine Yamal’s showdown with his PSG teammate Nuno Mendes.
“Lamine is not on my side, but he will be up against the best left-back in the world in Nuno Mendes. He is capable of stopping him, as he has done already, and as he has stopped other attackers with the same style as Lamine in the past. He is well prepared. … We will try to support Nuno so he isn’t left one-on-one, because we know what Lamine can do in those situations.”
Hakimi’s remarks carry both respect and subtle warning. He praised Mendes’ quality but reminded everyone that PSG will make it a collective effort to close down Barcelona’s teenage star. It wasn’t trash talk, but a clear message: Yamal will not be given the freedom he enjoys in LaLiga.
This matchup already has a backstory. In the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final, Mendes was named Player of the Match as Portugal beat Spain on penalties. Afterward he said he had “cancelled out” Yamal, denying him the freedom to influence the game. That duel continues at Montjuïc, with both sides claiming proof they can outdo the other.
Flick has doubled down on Yamal’s role this season, asking him to stretch defenses, isolate full backs, and create for Robert Lewandowski. On the other side, Luis Enrique has designed PSG’s system so Mendes never defends in a vacuum. Hakimi stressed that midfielders like Vitinha or Warren Zaïre-Emery will slide across to help, a sign PSG won’t risk leaving Mendes stranded.
Injuries complicate the picture. PSG are missing Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and captain Marquinhos, while Vitinha and João Neves remain doubts. Barcelona will be without Raphinha, raising the pressure on Yamal to shoulder even more of the attacking burden. Reports have also listed Désiré Doué as unavailable, though that status should be confirmed closer to kickoff. Both benches are thinner than expected, and that magnifies the importance of the battle Hakimi highlighted.
Pedri added to the tension by saying that Barcelona wants “revenge” for their loss in 2024. Luis Enrique responded with a smile, calling Pedri “Harry Potter” and joking he hopes the midfielder doesn’t bring his “wand.” Beneath the quips, both camps recognize the stakes.
Hakimi has already set the tone. Rising star against defensive wall. At Montjuïc, Europe’s spotlight will fall on that flank — and decide who bends first.
