Image Credits: Imago Images
Bradley Barcola was spotted in PSG training ahead of the clash with Liverpool at the Parc Des Prince on Wednesday evening.
The winger picked up an ankle sprain in the second leg of PSG’s emphatic 8-2 aggregate triumph over Chelsea in the last 16.
Slot’s squad will travel to Paris knowing that keeping Barcola quiet – or at best, off the pitch entirely – would significantly reduce PSG’s threat on the counter-attack. While the sight of the winger back in training offered a flicker of hope for PSG supporters, RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins was quick to clarify that his return to full fitness would not come in time for the first leg:
“Bradley Barcola will not play in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool. The winger is continuing his return-to-play protocol. However, he is recovering faster than expected from his ankle sprain, and that’s the good news. A decision will be made in the coming days to assess how he’s feeling.”
However, with the Frenchman now recovering faster than expected from his ankle issue, it means Barcola could be fit for the Anfield return leg on Tuesday, 14 April.
The injury concern around Barcola is not the only subplot surrounding PSG’s preparation for this tie. Earlier this month, Ligue 1 granted PSG’s request to postpone their title clash with second-placed Lens – originally scheduled for April 11, sandwiched between the two Liverpool legs – pushing it back to May 13.
It drew widespread attention to the advantages PSG enjoy as champions, with Liverpool in contrast set to play Fulham in the Premier League on that same Saturday, giving Slot’s side no such luxury between the two legs.
❗️Bradley Barcola ne va pas jouer le 1/4 aller de Ligue des Champions contre Liverpool. L’ailier poursuit son protocole de reprise. Cependant, il récupère plus vite que prévu de son entorse à la cheville et c’est la bonne nouvelle.
Un point sera fait dans les prochains jours pour… pic.twitter.com/aw4m5ZgPeu
— Fabrice Hawkins (@FabriceHawkins) April 7, 2026
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