Luis Enrique has said out loud what the past week has already shown.

“It’s true, we lack a penalty specialist,” the PSG manager told reporters on Monday.

The admission came less than 24 hours before his side hosts Barcelona in Matchday 3 of the Champions League.

Three different players have missed spot-kicks for PSG in just over a week. Ferran Torres had his penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 4-2 win at Manchester City on 14 October. Three days later, Ousmane Dembélé pulled a kick wide against Strasbourg in the 72nd minute, before atoning with the equaliser and a goal of his own in a 3-1 win. Earlier this month, Désiré Doué also failed from the spot in Ligue 1 against Le Mans.

Read also: Trigger man held without bail as four arrested over 49ers shooting

French Football Weekly puts the longer picture at 11 missed from 24 in all competitions since spring 2025.

The French champions have stuck to a shared approach rather than naming one dedicated taker.

“We have many players who are good at taking them, but it’s true that we are missing one player,” Enrique said.

Mendes blow before Yamal duel

Enrique’s problem list runs further than the penalty spot. Nuno Mendes limped off in the 86th minute of the Strasbourg win, and tests on Sunday confirmed the Portugal left-back has a muscle tear in his left thigh. The club said he would be out “for the coming weeks.”

Read also: ‘Fun to put a Mansell next to a Max’: Horner’s time-travel dream team

The absence costs PSG the match-up they had wanted most. The 22-year-old had been expected to track Lamine Yamal down the Barcelona right. Senny Mayulu is on a longer absence, and Maghnes Akliouche is also a doubt with an ankle problem.

Enrique names seven potential takers

Earlier in October, Enrique set out his list of players he considers capable from 12 yards.

“We have a list of three or four recommended players, including Vitinha, Dembélé, Beraldo, Hakimi, Kvaratskhelia, Doué, and Nuno Mendes.”

Who takes the kick on the night, he added, depends on the moment, the scoreline and the form of each player.

Read also: LeBron James took a $1.4 million hit on his luxury mansion – here’s why he sold it

The Budapest shootout

PSG won the 2026 Champions League final on penalties, beating Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in Budapest on 30 May. Dembélé had scored PSG’s equaliser from the spot in that final. Tuesday’s group-phase fixture at Parc des Princes does not go to a shootout.

Kick-off is at 9pm local time.

Read also: From Manchester United’s dugout to Milan’s record books: Amorim’s unbeaten seven