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When Barcelona face defending Champions League champions Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, Rodri will not be leading the midfield from the start.
The Catalan side arrived in the French capital looking to keep their flawless 2026–27 campaign intact. Barcelona have claimed victory in all 11 of their matches this season, remaining unbeaten in both La Liga and the Champions League.
However, going up against PSG is a completely different challenge. Luis Enrique's side are virtually unstoppable on the continental stage, bolstered each matchday by well-rested stars who often watch Ligue 1 fixtures from the sidelines.
Barcelona don't have that kind of flexibility, particularly with El Clásico just around the corner. Hansi Flick must carefully manage his players' minutes during a demanding stretch of fixtures, meaning Rodri will start from the bench for the high-profile showdown at the Parc des Princes.
Barcelona Confirmed Lineup vs. PSG
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): García; Cancelo, Cubarsí, Martín, Espart; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Gordon; Raphinha.
Substitutes: Dominik Livaković (GK), Wojciech Szczęsny (GK), Alejandro Balde, Álex Campos, Brian Fariñas, Fermín Lopez, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Karim Adeyemi, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Hamza Abdelkarim.
Why Rodri Is Not Starting Against PSG
Flick clearly had Sunday's Clásico in mind when selecting his starting lineup against PSG. Rodri, who has endured a string of injuries over the past two years, has already accumulated significant minutes this season amid a relentless schedule for both club and country.
At 30 years old, the midfielder must carefully manage his workload. He likely would have been rested regardless of which midweek fixture Barcelona had ahead of Real Madrid's visit this weekend—it simply happens to be against the back-to-back Champions League holders.
The decision also follows reports of Rodri experiencing minor muscular fatigue. The issue does not appear to be a serious concern; after all, the Spanish international played the full 90 minutes at the weekend and even got on the scoresheet during the team's 5–2 demolition of Real Betis.
But Flick is clearly unwilling to take any chances with a potentially title-defining Clásico on the horizon. Should Barcelona claim all three points against their fierce rivals, they would move nine points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table and take firm control of the title race.
Even if the reigning Spanish champions slip up against PSG without Rodri, they will still be heavy favorites to advance to the Champions League knockout stages.