At the Parc des Princes and four days before an already highly anticipated Champions League semi-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain could not do better than a draw (3- 3) against the HAC during the 31st day of Ligue 1. The mind is now free, even if the Rouge et Bleu will still have to wait before officially celebrating this new national consecration, the capital club will now be able to focus on this shock against the Marsupiaux, heavily defeated by RB Leipzig (1-4) before welcoming the Parisians to Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday evening. It now remains to know the choices of the Spanish technician for this very precious first meeting. A projection that is always so perilous to make when you know the unpredictable side of the Parisian architect. Saturday evening, against Ciel et Marine, the latter had also opted for a slightly revised eleven. Orphan of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Lucas Hernandez, Fabian Ruiz and Nuno Mendes, preserved for this meeting, the former coach of La Roja decided to start without Kylian Mbappé, Kang-In Lee and Gonçalo Ramos, left on the bench.
Luis Enrique managed his troops!
Present in the goals, Keylor Navas, who perhaps made his last appearance in the Parisian jersey, was thus protected by a four-man defense made up of Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Danilo and Lucas Beraldo. In midfield, Vitinha and Warren Zaire-Emery, officially extended by PSG, will have played the entire match, unlike Marco Asensio replaced at the break by Lee. Finally, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé accompanied Randal Kolo Muani, once again very discreet at the forefront of the Parisian attack. Far from team B, or even C, lined up against Clermont a few hours before traveling to Barcelona, Luis Enrique nevertheless took advantage of this last dress rehearsal to make a large turnover.
Thus, the playing time of most of its strong elements was limited: Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola came out at half-time for Kylian Mbappé and Senny Mayulu while Marquinhos gave up his place at the hour mark for Milan Skriniar. Disappointing in the game despite some good sequences, PSG nevertheless had the merit of preserving the essentials by snatching a draw in the final seconds thanks to their providential man: Gonçalo Ramos. A decisive passer a few minutes earlier for Hakimi, the Portuguese could legitimately claim a starting place against the Marsupials even if the attacking trio formed by Barcola, Mbappé and Dembélé still seems to have a head start. For the rest, Luis Enrique should logically rely on some past certainties. In the goals, Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected, as are Marquinhos and Lucas Hernandez at the heart of the defense, moreover after Danilo’s failed match against the oldest club.
Nuno Mendes’ physique raises questions, Ramos wants to believe it…
On the right side and despite the 90 minutes played against Le Havre, Achraf Hakimi should also start against the current 5th in the Bundesliga. The only uncertainty lies, perhaps, in the left-back position. Rather solid (8 duels won out of 13 contested, 5 balls recovered) without being imperial (Loïc Nego sometimes played him) against the HAC, Lucas Beraldo could, in fact, make his appearance in the Parisian eleven against the BvB, at a time when Nuno Mendes’ state of form is being questioned. Preserved for the reception of the oldest club, the Portuguese nevertheless remains favored by the forecasts. Finally, in the midfield, the Spanish technician should bring back the same men as during the return match against FC Barcelona. On cloud nine over the last few months, Vitinha is therefore logically hoped for in a sentry role. Left to rest on Saturday evening, Fabian Ruiz is expected to accompany the former FC Porto midfielder alongside young Warren Zaire-Emery. Unless the Iberian decides to rely on the physical impact of a Manuel Ugarte.
At a press conference, the strong man of the Rouge et Bleu, in any case, showed his confidence before this new European shock. “If PSG is ready? I think we demonstrated it actively and passively. We are a very difficult team to beat, technically, tactically, mentally. The stats are there. We have 23 players available. Now is the time to play for the competition that all teams want. I am convinced that we will really fight and that we will go to the final, that’s my goal”. One thing is certain, regardless of the possible surprises reserved by Luis Enrique and the protagonists of this first confrontation, PSG will be keen to strike a big blow on Wednesday evening, before meeting Dortmund at the Parc des Princes on May 7 for, hopefully, definitively validate its place in the final of the biggest European competition…
