Does Marquinhos play today? Athletic Club x PSG in the Champions League

Marquinhos, captain of Paris Saint-Germain, starts the game against Athletic Club this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Estádio San Mamés, in Bilbao, Espanha, for the sixth round of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The 31-year-old Brazilian defender takes the lead of the Parisian defense in a decisive clash for the French team, which is looking for 15 points and direct classification to the round of 16. Sua presence on the pitch at 8pm local time reinforces the solidity of PSG, current European champions, against a Athletic motivated by points in the playoffs.

The player has played more than 500 games for the club since 2013, becoming the athlete with the most games in PSG’s history. Essa mark, achieved in November 2025, highlights his longevity and dedication, with averages of 2.5 tackles per match and 85% pass accuracy.

The match takes place in the midst of PSG’s irregular campaign in the competition, with 12 points in five games, and Athletic in 28th place with four points.

Numbers that define the trajectory of Marquinhos

Marquinhos has played 489 minutes in the current Champions League, with five tackles and 0.9 interceptions per match.

In his career at PSG, the defender has 32 goals and 10 assists in 500 appearances, including 33 games in Ligue 1 of 2022-23, where he prevented 28 shots at the opponent’s goal.

His consistency appears in the 2,862 minutes played in the 2021-22 season, with a rating of 7.30 and five goals scored, the best rate of his career.

This data positions Marquinhos as a defensive pillar, with 101 clearances in 2016-17, helping the team win multiple domestic titles.

Peak of career at PSG

Marquinhos’s best moment came in the 2018-19 season, when he played 30 matches in Ligue 1, scoring three goals and contributing to the French treble.

That year he took on the captain’s armband for the first time in decisive games, leading the defense in an unbeaten league campaign, conceding just 38 goals in all competitions.

Milestones such as 300 games in 2021 and 500 in 2025 have cemented his legendary status, with Ligue 1 trophies and national cups elevating his legacy.

In 2023, during PSG’s conquest of Champions League, Marquinhos lifted the trophy as captain, in a memorable final against Manchester City, where he neutralized Haaland with three interceptions.

Expected impact on the duel in Bilbao

Marquinhos enters the field as a tactical reference, organizing the line of four defenders alongside Willian Pacho, in a 4-3-3 formation of Luis Enrique.

His reading of the game, with 70 clearances last season, should contain Athletic’s counterattacks, led by Nico Williams, who has 72 creativity.

The Brazilian, with a 7.29 rating in 2024-25, covers spaces on the left flank of Nuno Mendes, exploiting Basque weaknesses in dead balls, where PSG scores 40% of their goals.

• Ball possession: Marquinhos increases accuracy to 88% in ball releases, allowing quick transitions to
• Aerial duels: Vence 65% of clashes, crucial against Guruzeta, Athletic’s top scorer with two recent goals.
• Leadership: Como captain, motivates the team on trips, where PSG has won three of the last four in Espanha.

This performance could set the pace, with PSG needing a win to put pressure on leaders like Arsenal.

Tactical evolution under Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique relies on

In the 2025 pre-season, the defender trained hybrid positions, totaling 18 clearances in 491 minutes in the current league.

His adaptation to the 4-3-3 reduces lateral vulnerabilities, seen in the 3-5 defeat to Tottenham, where he conceded two goals from set pieces.

Facing a compact Athletic, Marquinhos should dictate high pressing, averaging 1.5 steals per game in the UCL.

The coach praises his versatility, allowing rotations with Zaïre-Emery in defense.

Legacy and numbers in European competitions

Over 12 years at PSG, Marquinhos played 80 matches at Champions, with two goals and 15 clean sheets.

In 2020-21, his 25-game season included the semi-final against Manchester United, where he made 40 tackles.

The record number of European appearances puts him ahead of former teammates like Thiago Silva, with 70 appearances.

These achievements reinforce his importance in knockout stages, where PSG advances in 60% of duels with him on the field.

Preparation for the confrontation at San Mamés

Marquinhos arrives recovered from a muscle injury in November, training intensely in the last few days.

San Mamés, with 53 thousand fans, tests its concentration, but it has a positive history in hostile stadiums, like Camp Nou.

His partnership with Pacho, with 62 combined clearances, aims to neutralize Sancet, with 63 technique.

The game at 8pm local time requires immediate focus, with PSG betting on its experience for the 90 minutes.