Gordon claims PSG had 'massive advantage' over Barcelona

Anthony Gordon has claimed Paris Saint-Germain had a "massive advantage" over Barcelona in their Champions League clash after resting their players in Ligue 1.

Champions League holders PSG defeated Barca 4-2 last time out in the competition, bringing an end to Hansi Flick's side's 11-game winning run to start the season.

Goals from Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal twice cancelled out PSG leads, but late strikes from Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz got the reigning champions over the line.

Prior to the encounter, PSG played Strasbourg in Ligue 1; Lucas Hernandez, Joao Neves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were the only outfield players to start against both Strasbourg and Barca.

Gordon believes PSG's decision to rest players played a sizeable role in the win.

"I think we're a fantastic team and on any given day we can beat anybody," said Gordon.

"In these two games [PSG and Real Madrid], the PSG game has a bit of context. On the [previous] weekend in their league they rested their whole team.

"We didn't have this privilege, so we were really tired in the game. This is normal, fine, we have to take responsibility, but I think they had a massive advantage with this."

Barca will be hoping to bounce back in the Champions League when they host Aston Villa on Tuesday.

The four previous meetings between the Blaugrana and Villa came between 1978 and 1983 – after going unbeaten in the first three (W2 D1), Barca were beaten in the fourth (3-0 in the Super Cup second leg).

This will be the first time former Newcastle United and Everton winger Gordon faces English opposition since he joined Barca in the summer, but he insisted there was no added incentive for him.

"I'm always motivated. The fact they're English doesn't make it more motivating for me," added Gordon.

"They're a very good team. They have a great coach, one of the best in the world. It's going to be a very difficult game."