In a few hours, one of the best displays of the start of the season will take place at the Parc des Princes. This Tuesday evening (9 p.m.), PSG hosts FC Barcelona for what has become a classic on the European scene since the arrival of QSI at the head of the capital club. A thrilling encounter between what looks more and more like the two best teams in the Old Continent and who, on top of all that, have been fueling real antagonism for several seasons now. A clash which risks keeping all its promises between the best attack in Europe since the start of this vintage and the winner of the last two Champions League.
Hansi Flick is at an impasse
However, Hansi Flick will have to improvise to compose his defense before this perilous trip to the Champions League. Indeed, the injuries of Eric Garcia, out for three to four weeks due to an injury to the right anterior of the right thigh, and of Jules Koundé, injured in the left ankle, are added to the absence of Andreas Christensen. A real headache for the German coach, deprived of several usual solutions for his defensive line, as one of the most demanding meetings of this phase of the league approaches. This is how the Catalan press tried this Monday morning to extract some information from Hansi Flick’s plans to best prepare for this duel at the top.
In this context, João Cancelo and Xavi Espart appear as the most credible options to occupy the corridors according to Sport. The Portuguese has the experience necessary to meet the demands of a match of this intensity, while the young Espart has convinced Flick since the start of the season by showing great qualities. But neither has played regularly in their natural position this season. For good reason, Cancelo was mainly used on the left, while Espart accumulated most of his playing time on the same side. Their possible simultaneous tenure would therefore force the technician to reorganize his laterals.
Rodri could even switch to defense!
The stakes are all the more important as Barça is preparing to face a Parisian team capable of doing very poorly offensively, in particular thanks to the speed and percussion of its attackers. By choosing to reposition Cancelo and Espart, Flick will have to be careful not to excessively expose his defenders, especially if they maintain their offensive habits. Alejandro Balde, who has only benefited from very limited playing time recently, seems to be starting far down the hierarchy, while Gerard Martin, diminished by a swollen foot after the match against Betis, will need to be sufficiently recovered to hold his place in central defense alongside Pau Cubarsi.
In the event of a new complication for the latter, however, Flick could be forced to explore a more unusual solution. Rodri, used in central defense at the end of the match against Betis after the exit of Eric Garcia, constitutes a backup alternative according to Mundo Deportivohe who has already occupied this position with the Spanish selection at times. Such an option would, however, lead to other adjustments in midfield, where Frenkie de Jong has not yet regained the necessary full availability after several months of absence and other profiles like Gavi are not in great shape. In Paris, the German technician will therefore have to tinker so as not to bury Barça’s hopes in the face of the offensive armada of PSG, which already smells of blood from its opponent.
