Few fixtures in European football carry the drama, history, and global intrigue of Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain. Their latest Champions League meeting promises fireworks, yet for one man in particular—Luis Enrique—it’s a tie he could happily have avoided.
Seventeen months ago, the Spanish coach masterminded PSG’s comeback against his beloved Barça, overturning a two-goal deficit to win 6-4 on aggregate. The fallout was brutal: Ronald Araújo’s red card became the turning point, Xavi Hernández was dismissed weeks later, and Luis Enrique himself endured the emotional cost of eliminating the club that shaped his career.
Injury shadows, but world-class stars set the stage
This encounter arrives with both teams hampered by injury. Barcelona are without Raphinha and Gavi, while PSG miss Marquinhos and Ousmane Dembélé. Other stars, including João Neves and Fabián Ruiz, remain doubtful.
Yet, even with absentees, the tie is stacked with elite quality—eight of last week’s Ballon d’Or top 12 were expected to feature. The spectacle all but guarantees global attention, but for Enrique, it brings back memories he would rather not relive.
Luis Enrique: Torn between victory and heartbreak
Luis Enrique’s success at PSG since that fateful clash has been undeniable. He has lifted nine of 11 possible trophies, including a domestic treble, and was crowned Ballon d’Or–Johan Cruyff Coach of the Year 2025.
But behind the silverware lies a heavy personal toll. Speaking after PSG’s victory in Barcelona last year, Enrique admitted:
“I never want to face Barça again in the next 10 years. Not once! For my sake and for the family. It was too much.”
The Asturian-born coach may hail from Gijón, but Barcelona remains his home. His Catalan wife and children, all loyal culés, felt torn watching him knock out the club that has given them so much joy.
Araújo and the tactical trap
That quarterfinal clash also defined Ronald Araújo’s trajectory. Identified by PSG’s analysts as Barça’s weak link under pressure, he was deliberately targeted. Instructed to press him aggressively, PSG executed the plan ruthlessly.
Within half an hour, Araújo’s misplaced pass led to a last-man foul, a red card, and the unraveling of Barcelona’s Champions League hopes. PSG capitalized, with Kylian Mbappé even producing a rare bout of pressing that his coaches had long begged for.
For Xavi, the loss was fatal to his job security. For Araújo, it was a moment that scarred his reputation—only now is the Uruguayan regaining full confidence.
A rivalry heavy with emotion
Luis Enrique’s reaction that night—celebrating passionately on the touchline—provoked backlash in Catalonia. Critics branded him “Mourinho-like,” accusing him of disrespecting the club he once represented as both player and coach.
But the truth, as Enrique later admitted, was simple: “Those were two brutal weeks. For the family too. We were burned out. Honestly, I’d rather have faced Madrid.”
Now, fate has handed him another reunion. This time it’s not a knockout tie, but pride, prestige, and progress in the Champions League group stage are all on the line. Barcelona’s fans will make their feelings clear, while Enrique, outwardly calm but inwardly conflicted, must once again lead PSG against the club that still feels like home.
