Enrique announces injury to Paris Saint-Germain star ahead of Barcelona clash

The Paris side played the closing minutes with ten men.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has revealed that his player Nuno Mendes picked up an injury during the 3-1 win over Strasbourg on Saturday, in the seventh round of the French league.

Mendes came on in the 53rd minute, helped turn the scoreline around, then limped off on 85 minutes. Enrique had already used all of his substitutions, so PSG finished the match with ten men.

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The Spanish coach explained, in press comments after the match: "He (Mendes) felt something slight in his thigh, and we decided not to take any risks."

He added: "I don't know whether we can describe that as an injury, but we decided to play with one man fewer, because we didn't want to take any risks."

Caution makes sense. PSG host Barcelona next Tuesday at the Parc des Princes, in the third round of the UEFA Champions League.

The Parisian side top the European competition on 6 points, ahead of second-placed Barcelona only on goals scored. Barcelona swept Real Betis aside 5-2 at their stadium on Saturday, in the ninth round of the Spanish league.