Paris Saint-German face a trip to Reims on Sunday evening, as they look to strengthen their position at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
The Parisians have enjoyed a flying start to the new Ligue 1 season, winning three out of three and scoring 10 goals in the process. They overcame Brest 4-2 in a close encounter last week, without several star players, including blockbuster signing Lionel Messi and Neymar.
However, Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping for a better performance from his boys against Reims, who remain winless after three games into the campaign.
Team News
Paris Saint-Germain suffered a big blow in the closing stages of their game at Brest when Mauro Icardi suffered a shoulder injury. He is set to be sidelined for three to four weeks with a sprained shoulder, the Ligue 1 club confirmed on Monday.
Summer signing Lionel Messi could finally make his PSG debut against Reims, confirmed Mauricio Pochettino. Neymar and Messi started pre-season training late after an extended break following the Copa America and the duo is likely to be on the bench on Sunday.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, PSG sporting director Leonardo said that Kylian Mbappe wants to leave the club and confirmed the club rejected a staggering €160 million offer for the forward from Real Madrid. With intense speculation surrounding his future, Mbappe is unlikely to be part of Pochettino’s travelling squad to Reims.
Predicted PSG lineup vs Reims (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Keylor Navas has started the first three games of the season in goal. The Costa Rican should’ve done better to stop Brest’s first goal last week and with new signing Gianluigi Donnarumma waiting in the wings, he’ll need to up his game.
Defence
With new signing Sergio Ramos out injured until September and Marquinhos returning late after an extended break following the Copa America exploits, Thilo Kehrer and Presnel Kimpembe have led the PSG lineup from the back. They’ll retain their places in Pochettino’s starting XI with Abdou Diallo and Achraf Hakimi in the full-back positions.
Midfield
The midfield is where Pochettino faces a headache, but a good one. Ander Herrera, Idrissa Gueye, Marco Verratti and Georginio Wijnaldum all played well against Brest, with the former two scoring a goal apiece. The PSG boss could sacrifice Verratti for Wijnaldum in his three-man midfield in the PSG lineup.
Attack
Up front, however, an untimely injury to Icardi and speculation surrounding Mbappe’s future means Pochettino has to shuffle his pack. Teenage sensation Arnaud Kalimuendo could be handed a start to lead the Parisian attack flanked by Julian Draxler and Angel Di Maria, who sealed PSG’s win at Brest with an exquisite chip finish from outside the box.
Lionel Messi and Neymar could play a part off the bench, as Pochettino aims to go into the season’s first international break with a 100 per cent record.