Rodri’s starting place in doubt against Paris Saint-Germain

Rodri’s starting place against Paris Saint-Germain is in doubt ahead of Tuesday’s fixture, scheduled for the third round of the Ligue. Spanish journalist Alfredo Martínez revealed that the match was due to take place today.

Martínez wrote on his X account that the indications available pointed towards Rodri starting on the bench. He offered no clear explanation for that possibility. It could be connected to a physical issue or be a decision by German coach Hans Flick. Flick could also rotate his players and manage their training workload according to the team’s needs.

Barcelona’s official lineup, expected before kickoff, should provide a clearer answer about Rodri’s role. The match against the French side at the Parc des Princes has been described as a difficult test. Barcelona come into it after a 5-2 win over Real Betis in the Spanish league.

In Ligue 1, Paris sit third with 14 points from seven matches. Their overall record is four wins, two draws and one defeat, with 12 goals scored and 7 conceded. Across their last five league games, Paris have recorded three wins, one draw and one loss.

At home in Ligue 1, Paris are unbeaten in four matches, with three wins and a draw. They have scored 9 goals and conceded 4 in those games. Away from home, their record is one win, one draw and one defeat in three matches, with 3 goals scored and 3 conceded. Paris average 1.71 goals scored and 1.00 conceded per Ligue 1 match. Those figures provide the league backdrop to the fixture; Barcelona’s lineup is still the key to resolving the questions around Rodri.