It is finally a large group that Luis Enrique was able to summon for the trip to Leverkusen for the 3rd day of the Champions League. PSG is recovering its injured little by little, and it is Dembélé and Marquinhos, the 2025 Ballon d'Or and the club captain, who are back in business during this meeting. From there to seeing them as starters, it's a step that we will not take yet, as the Parisian staff has demonstrated that they are taking precautions with regard to the physique of their flock.
In the goals, the problem does not seem physical but more mental for Lucas Chevalier who should start, to forget his Strasbourg setbacks last Friday. He has already obtained the support of his coach at a press conference, and will be expected to deliver a benchmark match with his new club. To protect him, William Pacho will be back in the starting eleven, probably accompanied by Zabarnyi. On the sides, PSG should line up its strong men, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.
Gifted again in the middle
In the midfield, the penalizing absences of João Neves and Fabian Ruiz give others the opportunity to express themselves. If Vitinha should make his return, Warren Zaire-Emery will have the opportunity to continue after a good performance against Strasbourg. The third thief should be Désiré Doué, who knows how to express himself in this role of relay midfielder. Up front, Barcola and Kvaratskhelia will also be able to find rhythm, and accompany Senny Mayulu in a role of false number 9 which had succeeded against FC Barcelona.
On the Leverkusen side, don't expect to find the fabulous team that dislodged Bayern from the top of the Bundesliga in 2024. Dismantled, the German team is also subject to the harsh law of physical problems. There are many absences (Palacios, Tape, Tella, Tillman, Lucas Vazquez) and Terrier, scorer on his return to the field last weekend, is not qualified for the Champions League. Flekken will be in the cages, with a three-way defense Tapsoba-Badé-Andrich. In the middle, Aleix Garcia and Fernandez are expected, with Poku and Athur on the wings. Grimaldo and the young Algerian Ibrahim Maza will be the main providers for the equally young Cameroonian Christian Kofane, who should start in place of Patrik Schick, back from injury.
