Barcelona call up Campos, Abdelkarim for PSG Champions League clash
Synopsis
A defensive injury crisis after Barcelona's 5-2 win at Real Betis has forced Hansi Flick to call up an 18-year-old reserve defender and a fourth-division forward for Tuesday's Champions League showdown at reigning champions PSG — with Eric Garcia ruled out for up to four weeks and Jules Koundé's Clásico availability hanging in the balance.
Key Takeaways
Hansi Flick has called up Alex Campos (18) and Hamza Abdelkarim for the Champions League trip to PSG on Tuesday .
Eric Garcia faces 3–4 weeks out with a thigh injury, ruling him out of the PSG game, El Clásico , and matches against Alavés and Aston Villa .
Jules Koundé has an ankle sprain and will miss the PSG fixture; his availability for the Clásico is uncertain.
Andreas Christensen was already sidelined before the injuries to Garcia and Koundé.
Gerard Martín is expected to be available after suffering only bruising at Betis.
Abdelkarim scored in a 2-1 win for Barça Atlètic in Spain's fourth tier just days before the call-up.
FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has summoned 18-year-old Barça Atlètic defender Alex Campos and Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim into his first-team squad for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League away fixture against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The call-ups come after a defensive injury crisis struck the Catalan club following their 5-2 La Liga victory at Real Betis on Saturday.
The Injury Crisis Driving the Call-Ups
Flick is without three defenders for the Paris trip. Eric Garcia sustained a muscle injury to the rectus femoris in his right thigh during Saturday's win and faces a recovery period of three to four weeks, ruling him out not just of the PSG game but also upcoming matches against Alavés and Aston Villa, as well as next weekend's El Clásico against Real Madrid.
Jules Koundé picked up an ankle sprain in the same match and will also miss Tuesday's clash. The French defender's availability for the Clásico remains uncertain, with Barcelona stating his participation 'will depend on his recovery.' Meanwhile, Andreas Christensen was already sidelined before the Betis fixture.
There was one piece of positive news: Gerard Martín, who was substituted at halftime on Saturday, suffered only bruising and is expected to be fit for the PSG match.
Who Are the Called-Up Players
Alex Campos has been a regular starter for Barça Atlètic this season and is regarded as a dependable defensive presence — reliable in his duties, strong in aerial duels, and comfortable building play from the back. At just 18 years old, a debut in the Champions League against PSG would represent a significant step up in his young career.
Hamza Abdelkarim, the Egyptian forward who made his move from Al Ahly permanent this season, has featured for both Barcelona's first team and reserves. Just days before the call-up, he scored in a 2-1 win over Utebo for Barça Atlètic in the RFEF Segunda Federación — Spain's fourth tier — underlining the step-change in competition he now faces.
What Is at Stake Against PSG
The match at Parc des Princes on Tuesday, 21 October 2026, is a heavyweight Champions League group-stage tie. PSG arrive as the defending European champions, making the venue and occasion arguably the most demanding Barcelona's patched-up defensive unit will face this season. Flick will need to reorganise his backline significantly in the absence of Christensen, Garcia, and potentially with a cautious eye on Koundé's long-term fitness ahead of the Clásico.
Context and What Comes Next
This is not the first time Barcelona have leaned on academy products in moments of senior-team crisis — a tradition the club has long prided itself on. The injury cluster, arriving in a single weekend, tests the depth of Flick's squad at a critical juncture with three high-profile fixtures — PSG, the Clásico, and the Aston Villa European tie — converging within a fortnight. How Barcelona's makeshift defence holds up in Paris could shape the trajectory of their entire European campaign.
Point of View
Not a theoretical one. Losing Christensen, Garcia, and Koundé simultaneously ahead of a trip to the reigning European champions is as close to a worst-case scenario as the fixture list could produce. Flick's call-up choices reflect necessity more than tactical design, and thrusting an 18-year-old reserve defender into a Champions League cauldron at Parc des Princes carries obvious risk. What is worth watching is whether this crisis accelerates the club's hand in the January transfer window, particularly given the Clásico and an Aston Villa European fixture also looming. Barcelona have a proud tradition of trusting academy players, but the timing of this injury cluster is brutal.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Barcelona called up Alex Campos and Hamza Abdelkarim?
Barcelona called up the two Barça Atlètic players because first-team defenders Eric Garcia, Jules Koundé, and Andreas Christensen are all unavailable for Tuesday's Champions League match at PSG. The injuries to Garcia and Koundé occurred during Saturday's 5-2 La Liga win at Real Betis, leaving Hansi Flick short of defensive options.
How long will Eric Garcia be out?
Eric Garcia is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks with a muscle injury to the rectus femoris in his right thigh. He will miss the PSG Champions League match, El Clásico against Real Madrid, and fixtures against Alavés and Aston Villa.
Will Jules Koundé play in El Clásico against Real Madrid?
Koundé's availability for the Clásico is uncertain after he sustained an ankle sprain at Real Betis on Saturday. Barcelona have said his participation in the Real Madrid match will depend on his recovery progress.
Who is Hamza Abdelkarim?
Hamza Abdelkarim is an Egyptian forward who made his transfer from Al Ahly to Barcelona permanent this season. He has played for both the first team and reserves, and scored in a 2-1 win for Barça Atlètic in the RFEF Segunda Federación — Spain's fourth tier — days before the Champions League call-up.
