Luis Enrique is once again spoiled for choice. After weeks spent juggling absences, the PSG coach is finally recovering his injured players. Ousmane Dembélé, Ballon d'or 2025, returns to the group forty-five days after his injury contracted with the France team against Ukraine. Marquinhos is also back. But according to the doctrine established by the Spanish technician, neither should start this Tuesday in Leverkusen. And in attack, Luis Enrique decided to shake everything up with a trio that was not necessarily expected.
Dembelé will start on the bench at Leverkusen
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the right, Bradley Barcola on the left, Senny Mayulu in false number 9. This is the attacking trio that Luis Enrique is preparing to line up against Bayer Leverkusen. A composition already tested during the first two Champions League matches this season, with success: 4-0 victory against Atalanta Bergamo and 1-2 success in Barcelona. This same trio started the match against Bergamo with crazy intensity for twenty dizzying minutes. But this time, he will play without the starting midfielder in the C1 final. Fabian Ruiz and João Neves are still out.
Ousmane Dembélé will therefore have to wait. Despite his return to the group, the 2025 Ballon d'or will not start the match. Luis Enrique was clear this Monday at a press conference:
“We have to do the last training to know the exact condition of our players. » Concerning Dembélé, the Spaniard was mischievous: “It's Ousmane Dembélé, he's not the Ballon d'or. » A way of reminding us that no one benefits from preferential treatment. The player will only enter during the match, whether the score is favorable or there is a delay to make up.
A revamped environment, gifted as reinforcement
In midfield, Désiré Doué should play a second game in a row after his return against Strasbourg last Friday. The Breton could evolve as a relay alongside Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha, thus replacing Fabian Ruiz, still unavailable. Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha, preserved during the Ligue 1 match, will densify the architecture of the team. Zaire-Emery, the player most used by Luis Enrique this season, continues once again after being present at a press conference.
Facing Bayer Leverkusen, PSG will have to deal without two midfield executives, Ruiz and Neves, but with a revitalized offensive sector. Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand is also recovering a few injured players, including Patrik Schick and Jarrel Quansah, but they are not expected to start. The Scandinavian technician warned: “They have very good one-on-one players. They are very high on pressing. He is an offensive weapon, but there is also the possibility of playing behind. » PSG has been warned. Luis Enrique has made his choices. It remains to be seen whether this new trio will confirm its good European dynamic.
