Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is concerned about the fitness of three players ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.

Gerard Martin and Eric Garcia were substituted during the match against Real Betis after experiencing discomfort. Jules Kounde is also dealing with a problem.

Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will play on Tuesday, 20 October. Kick-off is scheduled for 22:00 Moscow time.

Barcelona have sent a social media message to Alejandro Balde on his 23rd birthday after the defender made only one appearance for the club in the 2026/2027 season.

Balde played 12 minutes against Racing in mid-September before the final whistle ended the match. He has not featured since.

Barcelona’s post came on Sunday, when the Spain international celebrated his birthday.

Head coach Hansi Flick previously acknowledged that Balde’s situation at Barcelona was difficult, although the club have won all 11 of their matches so far this season.

Barcelona now face important fixtures against PSG and Real.

The winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or will be announced at a ceremony in London at the end of October, with Kylian Mbappe’s individual record making him a leading contender for the award.

The Real Madrid forward was the top scorer in Spain’s top flight last season, scoring 25 goals, including eight penalties. He also finished as the Champions League’s leading scorer after finding the net 15 times, three of those goals coming from the penalty spot.

Those numbers were not matched by team success. Real Madrid finished second in La Liga and were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They therefore failed to win either competition.

Mbappe continued his outstanding personal form with France at the 2026 World Cup during the summer. He contributed 14 goals and assists, scoring 10 times and setting up four goals, and finished as the tournament’s leading scorer.

It was the second consecutive World Cup at which Mbappe had won the Golden Boot. At the age of 27, he has scored 22 goals in World Cup matches, the highest total in the competition’s history. The players closest to him have already ended their international careers, while Mbappe is likely to feature at at least two more major tournaments and could extend that record significantly.

However, his goals again did not result in international silverware. France failed to win a medal after losing to England in the match for third place.

Mbappe makes his ambitions clear

Mbappe has compared his current level with the period when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo competed for the Ballon d’Or. The France forward has spoken openly about that ambition in interviews with international media, including France Football, the publication responsible for awarding the prize.

“I became the top scorer in all the biggest tournaments, and I think this year could turn out well for me. I have a good feeling,” Mbappe said.

His willingness to discuss the award has ensured he remains at the centre of media attention. Such an approach might once have been unusual, but the decision will ultimately be made by journalists, making visibility an important part of the contest.

Mbappe arrives at the ceremony with a rare collection of individual honours. He was the leading scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup during the same period.

The absence of team trophies with both Real Madrid and France could nevertheless count against him. Mbappe has made no secret of his desire to win the Ballon d’Or and has drawn comparisons with the era dominated by Messi and Ronaldo.

The outcome will be decided in London at the end of October, when the jury must determine whether exceptional individual statistics or team success should carry greater weight.

Real Madrid are strong favourites to defeat Sevilla when the two sides meet in the ninth round of La Liga on Saturday, 18 October.

The match at Real Madrid’s home ground is scheduled to kick off at 22:00 Moscow time.

Bookmakers’ analysts have given Real Madrid a 77.4% chance of winning. Sevilla’s prospects of securing all three points have been assessed at 8.7%, while the probability of a draw stands at 13.9%.

That leaves Sevilla with no more than a 24% chance of avoiding defeat in the fixture.

Recent meetings also favour Real Madrid. They have won each of the teams’ past five encounters, recording two 1-0 victories, two 2-0 wins and a 4-2 success.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Espart says facing Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid is the kind of opportunity players dream about from childhood.

The 19-year-old is preparing for two major fixtures in the space of five days, with Barcelona travelling to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on 20 October before hosting Real Madrid on Sunday, 25 October.

“It is what you dream of from childhood,” Espart said of the upcoming matches.

Barcelona will arrive at both games in strong form. Hans-Dieter Flick’s side extended its winning run to 11 matches on Saturday with a 5-2 victory away to Real Betis.

The result kept Barcelona top of La Liga on 27 points.

The visit to Paris comes first, followed by the home meeting with Real Madrid in what will be a significant period for Flick’s team.

Barcelona had to remain in Seville overnight after bad weather in the Catalan capital led to the postponement of their flight home.

Hans-Dieter Flick’s side had been due to leave on Saturday evening, shortly after beating Real Betis 5-2 in their La Liga ninth-round fixture. However, a storm and thunderstorms in Barcelona meant the flight was rescheduled, according to The Touchline.

The Barcelona players spent the night at a hotel in Seville.

They are scheduled to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, with the match taking place in Paris and kicking off at 22:00 Moscow time.

Barcelona have won all 11 of their matches in all competitions this season.

Barcelona full-back Xavi Espart has given his reaction after the club’s 5-2 victory over Betis in La Liga.

The 19-year-old Spaniard played the entire match on Saturday as Hans-Dieter Flick’s side extended its winning start to the league season to a record nine matches.

Barcelona’s run will be tested by PSG on 20 October, when the two teams meet in Paris in the Champions League.

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo says the club are ready for two major fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Barcelona will travel to the French capital to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on 20 October. Five days later, they will host Real Madrid in an El Clasico fixture.

Olmo, 28, scored in Barcelona’s 5-2 La Liga win against Real Betis on Saturday. The goal was the Spain international’s first since March.

“We are ready,” Olmo said of the challenges ahead.

Barcelona attacking midfielder Dani Olmo scored his first goal in more than seven months during Saturday’s La Liga match against Real Betis.

The 28-year-old came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute before completing the scoring in the 81st minute, making it 5:2.

Olmo’s previous goal had come on 15 March. The world champion has also provided four assists in 11 appearances for Barcelona this season.

Real Madrid will face Sevilla in the ninth round of the Spanish championship on 18 October 2026, with the Madrid side named as favourites to claim victory. The match also carries the prospect of an open contest, with a goals market prediction expecting both teams to contribute to a high-scoring game.

Real Madrid have not yet produced their best form in the league this season and currently sit fourth in the table on 18 points. They are nine points behind leaders Barcelona.

The side responded to a 1-0 league victory over Villarreal by beating Roma in the Champions League. That match ended 4-3 in Real Madrid’s favour, giving the team successive wins ahead of the meeting with Sevilla.

Sevilla have also made a positive start to the campaign and occupy fifth place with 14 points. The gap between the Nervionenses and the top three is five points.

Their most recent league matches have produced contrasting results. Sevilla were beaten 3-1 by Barcelona before drawing 3-3 with Levante. The match against Levante ended all square after both sides scored three times.

Form and head-to-head record

Real Madrid are considered the favourites for the fixture and have won four of their past five matches. Sevilla have recorded two victories in their last five games.

The most recent meeting between the clubs finished with a 1-0 win for Real Madrid.

The prediction for the upcoming match is that the total-goals lines will be surpassed, with the fixture expected to be entertaining and productive in front of goal.

The source lists bookmaker platforms as places to watch the match after quick registration, including Winline and Fon.bet.

Malaga host Real Sociedad in the Spanish championship on 18 October 2026, with the visitors expected to have the advantage in a fixture that could produce several goals.

Malaga under pressure at the bottom

Malaga go into the match in 20th and last place in the table. The club have collected four points from four draws, while losing each of their other four matches.

The gap between Malaga and 17th place, which would represent safety, is three points. Their latest result ended a run of two successive defeats, as they drew 1-1 with Espanyol in their most recent league fixture.

Malaga’s recent record also points towards closely contested matches. They have drawn three of their past five games, although those results have not been enough to lift them from the bottom of the standings.

Real Sociedad sixth in the table

Real Sociedad arrive in sixth place with 13 points from eight matches. The Basque side have won four games and drawn one, but have also suffered three defeats.

Their latest Spanish championship match brought a 3-2 victory against Deportivo. Real Sociedad then drew 1-1 with Union in the Europa League, meaning they were unable to follow up their domestic win with another success in European competition.

Despite winning only twice in their past five matches, Real Sociedad are rated as the favourites for this fixture because of their significantly stronger league position and superior points tally.

Prediction and match details

The forecast expects both teams to contribute to a game that reaches the relevant goal totals. The match is predicted to be an open and high-scoring contest rather than a low-scoring encounter.

Real Sociedad also have the advantage in the most recent meeting between the clubs, having won that match 1-0.

The match takes place on 18 October 2026. Real Sociedad are listed as the favourites, while Malaga’s three draws in their past five matches and the visitors’ two wins in their last five are among the main statistics highlighted ahead of kick-off.

The listed options for watching the match free of charge are bookmakers available after quick registration. The sources named are Winline, identified as winline.ru, and Fon.bet.

Lamine Yamal scored Barcelona’s opening goal against Real Betis with a fine strike from outside the penalty area, taking his tally to eight goals in nine appearances this season.

It is the best start by a Spanish player after the first nine matches of a club season in the competition since Diego Costa scored eight for Atletico Madrid in 2013-14.

Only one Spanish footballer has scored more at this stage in the 21st century: David Villa, who had a higher total with Valencia during the 2008-09 season.

Barcelona’s next fixture in the Spanish championship is against Real Madrid.

Celta and Alaves meet in the ninth round of the Spanish championship on 18 October 2026, with Celta regarded as the favourite despite sitting below their opponents in the table.

Celta are 11th with eight points from their opening eight matches. Their record includes one win, five draws and two defeats.

The Galician side were held to a goalless draw by Elche in their most recent Spanish championship fixture. They then suffered a 2-1 defeat by Juventus in the Europa League.

Alaves occupy seventh place with 11 points. They are already 16 points behind leaders Barcelona.

The visitors have lost their past four matches, according to the form assessment ahead of this fixture. Their latest Spanish championship result followed a 0-0 draw against Athletic, after which they were beaten 2-1 by Atletico.

Celta are identified as the match favourites, although their recent form has been mixed. They have won once in their last five games, while Alaves have suffered three defeats in their last five.

The most recent meeting between the clubs ended in a 4-3 victory for Alaves.

Match prediction

The forecast is for both teams to contribute to a high-scoring game, with the total-goals line expected to be exceeded. The match is anticipated to be an entertaining and productive contest in front of goal.

The available assessment therefore favours Celta for the result while also pointing towards a game containing several goals.

Where to watch

The source indicates that the match can be followed through bookmakers after a quick registration. No specific numerical betting odds are provided.

Lamine Yamal has moved to within one goal of Kylian Mbappe for long-range strikes in La Liga after scoring a superb effort from outside the penalty area against Real Betis.

The Barcelona forward has now scored 10 goals from outside the box in the Spanish top flight since the start of the 2023/2024 campaign, effectively his first full season in La Liga.

Only one player in Spain has scored more goals from that distance during the same period: Mbappe, who has found the net 11 times for Real Madrid in the past two-plus seasons.

Yamal and Mbappe will have the chance to settle the contest directly in their next match, with Barcelona set to face Real Madrid.

Rodrigo Hernandez, known as Rodri, has scored his first goal for Barcelona this season since joining the Catalan club last summer.

The midfielder’s strike means 11 different Barcelona players have now found the net during the current campaign. That is the highest total among clubs from Europe’s top five leagues.

Only Sevilla have matched Barcelona’s figure, with 11 players also scoring for the Spanish club this season.

Barcelona’s next La Liga fixture will see them face their main rivals, Real Madrid.

Osasuna will host Racing in the Spanish championship on 18 October 2026, with the home side expected to take all three points after a difficult run of results for both teams.

Osasuna

Osasuna go into the match 16th in the Spanish championship with eight points from their opening eight games. They have recorded two wins and two draws, while suffering four defeats.

Their most recent results have brought little encouragement. After drawing 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano, the Pamplona side were beaten 5-2 by Real Betis in their next fixture.

Despite that form, Osasuna are regarded as the favourites for the meeting. They have lost four of their past five matches, but their previous encounter with Racing ended in a 2-0 victory.

Racing

Racing are one place above their opponents in 15th, also having collected eight points. Their position remains precarious, however, with the club only one point clear of the relegation zone.

The Santander-based side have endured a particularly difficult spell. They suffered heavy defeats against Barcelona, losing 7-2, and Celta, going down 5-0, before recovering slightly with a 2-2 draw against Valencia.

Racing have lost three of their last five matches, although their latest draw offers some evidence of improvement after the back-to-back defeats.

Prediction

The forecast is for an Osasuna victory. The home team are expected to make the most of their advantage and defeat Racing in the Spanish championship fixture.

Osasuna are the match favourites, while the most recent head-to-head meeting also went in their favour, ending 2-0.

No numerical betting odds are provided. The match is listed as available through bookmakers following quick registration.

Barcelona continued their prolific start to the season by scoring five times against Real Betis, with Lamine Yamal both opening the scoring and creating another goal.

Yamal struck the first goal of the match before supplying the assist for Barcelona’s third, scored by Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus early in the second half.

The teenager’s contribution means he is the first player in Europe to reach 10 assists in the current season.

The figure covers all competitions, rather than domestic league matches alone. Many regard the Barcelona forward as the best player in the world at present.

Barcelona continued their prolific start to the La Liga season by scoring five times away at Real Betis.

The result took the Catalan club’s tally to 39 goals after nine matches, an average of 4.33 per game. That is the second-highest total recorded in the history of the Spanish championship after nine rounds.

Only Sevilla have managed more at this stage. During the 1940/1941 season, they scored 42 goals in their opening nine fixtures, averaging 4.66 per match.

Barcelona’s next La Liga game is against Real Madrid.

Hansi Flick says Barcelona’s record-equalling start to the La Liga season will only matter if it leads to silverware.

Barcelona have won all nine of their league matches so far, matching a record set by Real Madrid, who also began a campaign with nine consecutive victories in the late 1960s.

Asked about achieving the best start in the competition’s history, Barcelona manager Flick said records were not the team’s priority.

“Records are nice, but they do not concern us. Our aim is to win trophies. We will see at the end of the season whether we manage to win titles,” Flick said at a news conference, according to The Touchline.

Barcelona extended their perfect run on Saturday with a convincing 5-2 away victory over Real Betis.

Raphinha has moved into fifth place among Brazilian players with the most appearances for Barcelona after making his 186th appearance for the club.

The milestone came when he was introduced in the second half of Barcelona’s 5-2 victory over Real Betis at La Cartuja.

Raphinha has now matched Neymar’s total of 186 games for the Catalan side. Neymar reached that figure during his Barcelona career between 2013 and 2017.

Raphinha joined Barcelona in 2022 and has scored 89 goals for the club. That total places him among the top 30 goalscorers in Barcelona’s history.