Could PSG vs Barcelona influence 2026 Ballon d'Or winner?

Sky Sports News

Sky Sports News expert breaks down Champions League ties, the Ballon d'Or race and Ten Hag's Ronaldo comments

The show looks at English clubs' strength in the Champions League league phase, the PSG-Barcelona showdown, the Ballon d'Or race and several other European fixtures. Julien Laurens predicts Lamine Yamal will win the Ballon d'Or but argues that last season's club form should not make him the winner, while also discussing PSG, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Ten Hag's Ronaldo comments.

► Subscribe to Sky Sports News: http://bit.ly/SkySportsNewsSub ► Watch Sky Sports with NOW: https://bit.ly/NOWSkySportsYT European football expert Julien Laurens discusses the key upcoming Champions League fixtures and who he believes deserves to win the Ballon d'Or. championsleague barcelona psg ► For the latest developments on this story: https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/topstories ► For the latest transfer news: https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/TransferCentre More from Sky Sports on YouTube: ► Sky Sports: http://bit.ly/SkySportsSub ► Sky Sports Boxing: http://bit.ly/SSBoxingSub ► Sky Sports Cricket: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyCricket ► Sky Sports Darts: https://bit.ly/SubSkySportsDarts ► Sky Sports Football: http://bit.ly/SSFootballSub ► Sky Sports F1: http://bit.ly/SubscribeSkyF1 ► Sky Sports Golf: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsGolf ► Sky Sports Premier League: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsPL ► Sky Sports Retro: http://bit.ly/SkySportsRetroSub ► Sky Sports WSL: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSkySportsWSL ► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skysportsnews ► X: https://x.com/SkySportsNews ► Website: https://www.skysports.com ► To enquire about licensing Sky Sports content, you can find out more here: https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/news/31754/11434270/license-sky-sports-footage

Transcript

Welcome back. Another big week of Champions League football ahead. I'm delighted to say that European football expert Julian Oruron joins me now. Lovely to see you as always. >> Lovely to see you. >> Let's talk about it then because English clubs, you know, really dominated the league phase, haven't they in recent years and this season, they played 10 games combined, eight wins. So, is this kind of expected now? Is this the norm? >> Yeah, I think so. I certainly think that in this first phase, they are by far the strongest team. They probably have the more depth as well to be able to rotate without >> really changing the performances of the team so much. And I think they are they have that domination that that dominance over over other teams. When you get to the knockout stages, it's a different competition. We often say that home and away. And there's more in the Premier League as well to come at that time of the season compared to maybe other leagues. So that's where maybe they don't dominate as much later in the later stages of of this Champions League, but for the first phase, they undoubtedly the team that you don't really want to face. >> Do you feel they they juggle the games the better in terms of the league and everything as well? you know, the domestic league. >> Yeah, I think so. That first phase really and I think again because they're so strong and this new format kind of like patch you with two strong two strong teams and then depending on the pot that you were in at the draw, I think that plays in favor very much of English clubs, they would dominate the old version and the old format of those group stages that you knew them before with with four teams anyway either. So, that hasn't really changed. >> It's it's it's after that where things maybe get a bit more tricky. Okay, let's talk about the top two then because PSG faced Barcelona. Do you feel this is like the most exciting? I mean, we that was pretty exciting last week, Manchester City against PSG, but will this be even more exciting? >> I think even more exciting. They're the two certainly most entertaining teams I think in the competition. Attacking wise, >> I don't think you could probably do better than this. Laminar on one side and Gravascalad on the other side. Even Antony Gordon and how well he's settled that a Barcelona for example, even the options that you have on the bench when you think that Ferane Torres would very likely be on the bench for PSG that you probably would have marsh on the bench and on the other side at the Emmy on the bench and and maybe Daniel Moore, FM Lopez, all of that all those attacking great options that the two managers have. So to clear identity and we talked a lot about identities and philosophies with some big Premier League teams at the moment. PG and Barcelona have those very very clear style of football that face each other tonight in a game full of stars and diamonds. So it should be a lot. >> One of their diamonds is missing though tonight in Nuna Mendes isn't it for PSG. Um how do they you know they'll have a backup but how do they combat Lamin then? I think if there's one player you would want to have against Lamin is him really because he's been the best defender, the best left back in the world for many years now, but also against Lamin. >> I think the answer that Len gave yesterday was really cool. He said like, well, the best way of stopping Lamin is having the ball all the time. If you have the ball all the time, then he will never get the ball and it's not going to happen obviously. But I think they're going to put where at left back. He's a midfielder by trade, but on that left hand side, I think he can do a job defensively. But if you get Lamin not to have the ball in the most comfortable positions, then I think that's where also you could defend well against him. So prevent him from getting the ball uh easily, let's put it that way, which is far easier to say than to do, then I think Zary could have a good option against him. >> It's a good answer, isn't it? Just don't let them have the ball basically. Exactly. How that would work. Um do you think the Ballandor winner is on show as well tonight in this game? >> Yes, because I think Lamin will win it. I think more than I would love Vascal who I think was the best player in club competitions last season and again this Balondo should be voted by those journalist on last season and especially the club season more than the World Cup time. But I think Lamin for everything that he is how good he is and he is great I think has a has the biggest chance to win it for me. But I'm sat here on the Harry Kane bench. Why not Harry Kane? >> Because I don't want to break your heart. You or Harris, I know Harris is watching as well. >> I think even Michael was the better Bayern Munich player last season. And I think this award also is key and that's why I don't think Lamine should win it because Lamine didn't do well in the Champions League quarterfinal exit. Didn't do that well in the World Cup although his his country won it. was Grascal was the key player in all the top top games last season at club level but Harry in those games where he mattered the most maybe didn't show up like he should have and I think Oise was really Bayern's best player last season >> even 61 goals in 51 games I'm pushing >> but Kian scored a lot of goals too for Real Madrid and and for France and didn't win neither the La Liga or the Champions League or the World Cup >> England did beat France I mean I know you again I we just have to bring it up they did beat them at the World Cup though didn't Yeah. Yeah. You want to discuss it? >> They did. I don't want No, cuz I I forgot this game. But no, Ken has a chance. Of course he has. I just think Lamin probably would capture more the vote of of those voters. >> Okay. All right. We find out Monday. Is it >> Monday night? Yeah. >> Are you going? >> Yeah. Will you be there? No. I've got another show. >> My lost in the post. Um what about PSG though? Let's go back to them. Um, did that win against Manchester City kind of prove that they are yet again the team to beat in this season's competition, do you think? >> Yeah, I think so. That first half was exceptional. Uh, everything that they did in the first 45 minutes, not just the goal they scored, but also the way they defended against this City team, not even allowing them three passes together showed that when they decide to turn it on, because they don't always do, and they haven't always done it this season, they are at times unplayable like we saw last season and the season before. And I think this is also a team that turns it on in the big games in the big nights. So the league phase is important, but let's not forget the last two seasons they won the Champions League after finishing outside of that top eight when Liverpool topped that league phase or Arsenal topped the league phase. >> So it shows you that in the big night that's usually where they they show it and tonight is a big night like last week was a big night at the >> Is it about coming good at the right time? It feels like this kind of the new league phase is kind of you can gallop into it slowly. If you can gallop slowly, >> can you gallop slowly? I think well I don't know Trot. Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Uh >> yeah it shows exactly that and I think probably a Vincent company or Micharteta or an under Raola and Maresca too I think kind of will I wouldn't be surprised if they almost mirror what PSG and RK did last season on that level of like you know what that league phase doesn't really matter that much >> and then focus on February onwards especially in the Champions League. And in terms of city, is this the right opportunity for them against AK? I know they've got a lot of injuries at the moment, but this is a good trotting for them. >> You are home as well. You don't even need to travel anywhere. AK, they're a decent team, >> but you would beat them with your B team and with your C team as well. And I don't think there's anything there >> for Mariska to think, shall I rotate? I think he will rotate 100% and be ready for the game at the weekend in Premier League, which is by by far the most important game uh away at Villa on Saturday. the most important game of the week far more than the one today. >> Yeah. And they're doing all right, aren't they in the league? Um what about Liverpool that against Vie Royal? Um an interesting combination. I don't think Val I think the last team to beat them, if I'm right, was Everton way back in England. So actually they haven't got good um uh what's it record in in England. But this will be fascinating because the two know each other, don't they? Areola and Perez. >> Yes, of course. Yeah. Inigo Perez used to be I roa's assistant Ario Valicano before he moved to Bournemouth and Inigo Perez would have moved with him to Bournemouth if he had had the work perm at the time work permit was not granted or certainly not at the right time and then he stayed and did a really good job of and then now he's at Villa Royale where they have started really slowly suddenly in the league they're only 13th it was a a nil nil draw again at the weekend against game they should have won they had many many chances to win but it's just not really clicking despite having a a decent squad. So I don't expect Liverpool to have too much trouble. Although Villa Royale a good playing side and he he should make for an interesting game, but Liverpool will be the favorite. And I I want my boy Bradley Barcola to continue the good form, the hatrick against last and the assist at Brenford for the winning goal and for BB29 to keep shining and then win you all harsh English critic over. I would love that. >> Yeah, they have. No, not me personally because I'm not a harsh cricket of cricket or critic. Um but I mean he has come up against it hasn't he and do you think he will come good though? Yeah, and I think it was a little bit harsh after the City game, for example. I thought people were a bit harsh on >> judging him on that performance in a game that was quite early in his Liverpool career and Premier League career against a a top team where yes, okay, he didn't perform like he maybe could have, but I thought that was a bit harsh. And then I'm glad against Lask in a game that Liverpool dominated heavily in a game where you would expect Barcola to do well that he did really well. And then I thought he followed that up nicely against Brenford in a tough game against tough opposition certainly defensively with that smart assist for Isak who still had you know a lot of work to do but and I so I'm hoping that he's on a on a on a roll. He's on a roll now. Yeah. And hopefully Villa Royal game is another game where he can just add up and and have that momentum going for him. >> Yeah, makes sense. Um tomorrow night's headline act we see Bayern against Arsenal. Do you feel this is like the the best attack against the best defense? Yeah, and certainly I think that's the way Miketa will approach this game. No Miklo for them, which is a huge blow for Bayern. Silly red card last week. Should have known better. Very unlike him as well as a as a character. So that red card is a good is good news for Arsenal. We're not sure who will replace him on that rightand side. Oise probably could be Le Carl, young player, very talented, but still not at the same level. But for Arsenal is you go away in the Champions League. make sure that you're solid more than anything else. Don't concede, don't give them too much. And I think Arsenal will also have tools in attack in a more open against a more open opposition than what we've seen at at the weekend, for example, to go and hurt them. >> Yeah, I mean, they they've come up against their critics as well in terms of Arsenal's attack, haven't they at the moment? Do you think they're a little bit >> lacking in that area at the moment? >> Yeah, I think there's still that power of control that Mike loves a lot. And I think when you go away in the Premier League, let's say a team like Forest on Sunday, then I think you want to control the game with and without the ball more than anything else. And that's explains probably why they're still very cautious with the ball. But low blocks are always hard to break down, I think, for any team. And tomorrow, Bayern won't play in a low block. They will attack. They will try to press Arsenal. And I think there will be more space there for the likes of Sakano the guard, Havs, a Madwick on that left hand side to exploit. And I think we see a much better version of Arsenal than what we saw with the handbreak a little bit on Sunday. >> Yeah, certainly was on a little bit as you say. Look, whilst we've got you, we've got to ask you about Ericton Hog because it's been some kind of explosive comments from him today about Cristiano Ronaldo not training properly. Um, what did you make of these comments? Timingly not great either. >> I'm not the biggest fan of those managers coming out way after when you were not really good like Eric Tenhag was at United. He he flopped in the end to come out and say, well, you know, this guy did that and him and look at that and not taking much responsibility either. I'm a bit surprised about the Ronaldo not being a good trainer even at that age cuz that's what he's known for. >> Absolutely in the sheen, isn't it? >> Yeah. And I'm almost waiting now for Cristiano to answer. I don't think he will. He's he's above that and rightly so. But just for us as a popcorn watcher of Scaspus News, I would love Christian to come out and say, "Well, Eric, what about this and that and that?" But yeah, I'm I thought he was a bit below the belt and I don't like it. >> Okay. Well, we like you. Thank you for joining us. >> True. I'm going to trot gallop. >> Yes. Gallop off photo or trot off. It's up to you. >> Thank you so much. Right.