Paris Saint-Germain will be without injured forward Neymar for their Champions League tie against Manchester United. It is an absentee that his teammates know will make their task even more difficult against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.
"Ask [Ernesto] Valverde if it is difficult to play without [Lionel] Messi or ask [Massimiliano] Allegri if it is difficult to play without Cristiano," Kylian Mbappe said on Sunday after their loss against Lyon.
But what if all Champions League teams did indeed have to play without their best player? We take a look at what each line-up would look like. Who would have the better squad? Who would most notice the absence of their best player?
PSG
Although Mbappe discussed Neymar as being the team's best player, the Frenchman can also claim that honour for himself, but his belief gives the injured ace the nod.
BARCELONA
At the Blaugrana, there is absolutely no doubt. Messi is the star of the show.
ATLETICO MADRID
Jan Oblak could run Antoine Griezmann close for the honour but the Frenchman has twice finished on the Ballon d'Or podium in recent years and his latest renewal makes him the club's reference point.
REAL MADRID
Although there are a lot to choose from, Luka Modric is the current Ballon d'Or winner and can be distinguished as Real Madrid's best player currently.
BAYERN MUNICH
In a team in which the stars are getting ever older, the effectiveness of Robert Lewandowski probably makes him the most fearsome player.
MANCHESTER CITY
David Silva or Sergio Aguero can definitely dispute Kevin De Bruyne's status as City's best player but when he is healthy, the Belgian can do everything and is in the prime of his career.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Only his problems with injuries have deprived Marco Reus of a place among the world's elite for several years.
JUVENTUS
As with Barcelona, there is no doubts here that Cristiano Ronaldo is the star of the show.
LIVERPOOL
There is a lot of dynamite in the Liverpool attack but Mohamed Salah is the main man.
TOTTENHAM
One of the best No.9s in the world, Harry Kane is a great striker both inside and outside the box.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Although perhaps he will never be the player that many expected, when Paul Pogba is at his best he's remarkable and has been much improved under Solskjaer.
navimessi
231
I think it's Manchester city because Manchester city are already played well during de bruynes injury period
CM77
203
I think it's unfair that Pogba is considered to be the best player at Man Utd, De Gea is supposed to be the best
Fohaiuyz
156
Manchester city will because they prove that they can do without kDB earlier this season
Lionaire
132
It's Barca on paper.. But It's Dortmund in Real Life
dauelmnsz
130
I think man city without de bruyne are the most lethal team
AzuhDante
128
Man City and Barcelona, but the Barcelona coach do not kw how to manage the team without Messi
Devansh10
114
I think Barca or PSG are the most lethal even without their talismans (LM10 & NJR10 ) but the French wingers in both team have got wonderful talent that is speed added to their skills. Thus they can be still as dangerous without their main man.
AhmedAoyon007
114
with or without Modric Real Madrid are same...
Dhairya_Rawal
113
I'd say Juventus... They reached a UCL final with almost the same defensive line... Dybala, Costa have the attacking prowess and Mandzukic is a lethal finisher... Pjanic is one of the most underrated player and Matuidi, Khedira and Bentancur are quite good midfielders as well.... Without Ronaldo, they can still be extraordinary
radcdlno
90
berca is soo lethal without messi but valvede is soo dumb without messi even after establishing a healthy bench ...for united Degea is the beast no doubt ...though we don't have a replacement for pogba ...city wins easily without aguero or Silva .. but do city even win without Fernadinho ? seems like nobody has learnt enything after city lost back to back without fernadihno
Aland115
75
Juventus can win without Ronaldo But Barca won't survive without messi Levante 2-1 barca Sec leg (with Messi) 3-0 Sevilla 2-0 Barcelona (without messi) Second leg (with Messi) Barcelona 6-1 Sevilla
Stanstanfords7
54
I'd say Juventus because they've been here even before the Ronaldo error. Adding Ronaldo to the mix is just making the team more lethal, though they have been vaunarable even with the 5time Ballon Dor winner in it 90mins. But do not underrate the Ole gunnar Soskjear squad because confidence beats even the most skillful
Wiyaiklmuz
54
Ronaldo is not the main man Juventus. Their defenders are.
Shagun
46
I don't know about the best, but eliminating Modric does not affect Real Madrid as he is not among their best. even PSG is great without Neymar for now. only Ronaldo and Messi look real irreplaceable.
Nรฉzhrรฏ
45
Man utd is dead without the Magic pogba we saw Man city beat man utd 3:0 wit@ pogba during the first Manchester derby, we have seen Barcelona lost matches without the special messi 2 levante, Sevila, PSG suffered their first defeat to Lyon because of the injury of Their best player Neymar even though people see Mbape before Neymar (sokoboy) Man city is the only team that can survive wit@ KDB their best player even though they have not been that convincing this season, Liverpool is another sorry team that won't survive wit@ Mo.Salah it was clear in the UCL final last year they have shown that they lack the fire power wit@ Salah. I think Juve can survive wit@ Ronaldo because they have won trophies wit@ him and I believe they have the players that can do it wit@ him because with Ronaldo they lost to Young boys of Switzerland with Ronaldo they also lost to Man utd @ home and also to Atalanta just of recent with they are strong with@ Ronado
Georgios
15
I think it's unfair that Pogba is considered to be the best player at Man Utd, De Gea is supposed to be the best
imagine if the best player was Lukaku ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐