Laporta: Barcelona and Paris are the best teams in Europe, no room for excuses

Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, stated that the match against Paris Saint-Germain represents an important test for both teams, pointing out that absences due to injuries will not be an excuse for either side ahead of the anticipated clash between the two teams in the UEFA Champions League.

Joan Laporta, upon arriving at a lunch gathering between the two clubs' administrations at the Pavillon Ledoyen restaurant in the French capital Paris, stated: "It is the best match to be played in Europe, between the two most prepared teams, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain."

Barcelona's president added: "The most important thing is the immediate present, the match on Sunday is extremely important, as we are competing for a lot in the league. Today, each team will be able to know its true level compared to European football; we are the two best teams at the moment."

Laporta discusses absences due to injuries, stating: "There is no room for excuses, these are circumstances that happen, Paris Saint-Germain also misses Nuno Mendes, while we are without Erik Garcia and Koundé, but I know that Flick has already looked for solutions so that their absence does not show an impact."

The president of the Catalan club praised the level of both teams, stating: "The match will bring together players with great talent, and two teams that prioritize the group's interest over individualism, along with two great coaches."

When asked about the controversial moment involving Arda Güler during Real Madrid's win over Sevilla, Laporta declined to go into details, saying: "There will be time to talk about Real Madrid starting tomorrow, as there are matters worth discussing," before adding: "Today is a day to enjoy football."