Safonov starts in goal for PSG against Barcelona in Champions League
In short
Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov is in Paris Saint-Germain's starting lineup for the Champions League match against Barcelona. The game is in Paris on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, and starts at 22:00 Moscow time.
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Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov will start for Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League match against Barcelona, TASS, RBC, Interfax and RIA Novosti reported on 20 October. The match is in Paris and starts at 22:00 Moscow time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
RIA Novosti said the match is the third round of the Champions League main stage and is played on Tuesday. It listed the PSG lineup as Hakimi, Marquinhos (captain), Kvaratskhelia, Fabian Ruiz, Dembele, Doue, Vitinha, Lucas Hernandez, Pacho and Neves, with Safonov in goal. [ 4 ]
For Barcelona, RIA Novosti listed Joan Garcia in goal, Cancelo, Cubarsi, Pedri, Yamal, Raphinha (captain), Xavi Espart, Gordon, Gerard Martin, Olmo and Bernal. [ 4 ]
RIA Novosti added that PSG won the last two editions of the Champions League. It said Barcelona have won the tournament five times, most recently in the 2014/15 season. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
TASS, RBC, Interfax and RIA Novosti all reported that a Russian goalkeeper will start a Champions League match for PSG. The documents give no basis for wider significance.
Key facts
- Matvey Safonov will start in goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The match is in Paris and starts at 22:00 Moscow time on Tuesday. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- RIA Novosti said it is a third-round match of the Champions League main stage. [ 4 ]
- RIA Novosti listed Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos (captain), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Fabian Ruiz, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Vitinha, Lucas Hernandez, Willian Pacho and Joao Neves in the PSG lineup alongside Safonov. [ 4 ]
- Barcelona start Joan Garcia in goal, with Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha (captain), Xavi Espart, Anthony Gordon, Gerard Martin, Dani Olmo and Marc Bernal. [ 4 ]
- RIA Novosti said PSG won the last two editions of the Champions League and that Barcelona have won the tournament five times, most recently in 2014/15. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the match went ahead as planned and its result. The documents were published before the match and report only the lineup and the scheduled start.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reported that Safonov is in the PSG starting lineup. [ 1 ]
- RBC reported that Safonov will start against Barcelona. [ 2 ]
- Interfax reported that Safonov will start from the first minutes. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti published the full lineups of both teams. [ 4 ]
- Scheduled start of the match in Paris, Moscow time. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]