PSG vs Barcelona Champions League tie goes ahead despite violent protests in France

Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will face each other on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes without any change to the original plan in the Champions League round of 16 second leg. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that the match remains on schedule at the usual venue despite the wave of violence that has hit France over the weekend. The decision comes after the government considered suspending major events, including football fixtures, because of the tension affecting several cities across the country.

• The PSG vs Barcelona match takes place on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes as planned.
• Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the decision after an emergency meeting with top government officials.
• Weekend protests left riots, looting and more than 2,000 arrests nationwide.
• Other European fixtures, including Lille vs Galatasaray, are also unaffected.
• Security in Paris will be reinforced amid social tension and past violent celebrations involving PSG.

French government keeps PSG vs Barcelona at the Parc des Princes

The possibility of calling off Barcelona's visit to Paris was discussed during the crisis meeting summoned by the French executive. However, the Champions League tie is outside any restriction. Nuñez was clear about the European clash and guaranteed that the knockout match will not be changed.

"But this does not apply to tomorrow’s match between PSG and FC Barcelona," said French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

Champions League ignores the unrest: Lille vs Galatasaray also goes ahead

European football keeps its schedule in France despite the unstable climate. The minister specifically mentioned the tie between Lille and Galatasaray, set for Wednesday in the northern city, which has also seen shops vandalised over the weekend. The decision confirms that continental competitions will not stop, even if security operations become more intense.

A country on alert: more than 2,000 arrests and localised curfews

The images of violence have drawn worldwide attention and left much of French society shocked. The unrest has targeted city halls, other public buildings and hundreds of businesses, leading to more than 2,000 arrests across the country. The situation prompted Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to instruct prefects to impose very limited and localised curfews in cities to prevent further rioting and looting.

Nuñez himself acknowledged that authorities had lost control in several major cities on Saturday, with hundreds of businesses looted. The interior minister offered his resignation on Sunday, but President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay on to respond to police needs during the emergency.

Security at the Parc des Princes: a reinforced deployment

The match between Parisians and Catalans will require a robust police operation, especially with security forces already strained after weeks of student protests. The recent record adds to the concern: in May, police in Paris detained dozens of people after violence disrupted celebrations of PSG's second straight Champions League title, won on penalties against Arsenal, and a group tried to storm a police station in the capital.

What is at stake for PSG and Barcelona in the second leg

The tie arrives in Paris with everything still to play for. Barcelona defend the result from the first leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, while Luis Enrique's side need to impose their rhythm in front of their own fans to stay alive in the competition. The Parc des Princes will host a night in which football will share the stage with a particularly delicate social situation in France.

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