Paris Saint-Germain will return to Ligue 1 action on Saturday when they host Clermont Foot at Parc des Princes.
The Parisians are the only club in Ligue 1 with a 100 per cent record having won their four opening fixtures, scoring 12 and conceding five goals in the process. They went into the international break after a 2-0 success over Reims, thanks to a Kylian Mbappe brace.
Mauricio Pochettino would want Paris Saint-Germain to preserve their place at the top of the Ligue 1 table by beating Clermont Foot, who are unbeaten in the season with eight points from four games.
Team News
There is a possibility that Mauricio Pochettino will be without the likes of Neymar, Marquinhos, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Mauro Icardi against Clermont Foot.
Neymar and Marquinhos are set to feature for Brazil against Peru while Messi, Di Maria and Paredes will line up for Argentina against Bolivia in their 2022 World Cup qualifying fixtures. They are due back with PSG on Friday evening, one day before the Ligue 1 fixture.
Mbappe and Kimpembe suffered minor injuries while on international duty with France and could be fit to face Clermont Foot, as per Le Parisien. (h/t Ghana Soccernet)
Summer signing Sergio Ramos is yet to make his PSG debut due to injury problems and while he was due to be back in action after this month’s international break, the Spaniard is still recovering and his return remains unknown.
Meanwhile, Nuno Mendes, who has joined on a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon, has flown to France ahead of his unveiling as a new PSG player.
Predicted Paris Saint-Germain lineup vs Clermont Foot (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Keylor Navas has been the team’s starting goalkeeper so far this season but as he is with Costa Rica for the World Cup qualifiers and due back with PSG on Friday. Summer signing Gianluigi Donnarumma could make his long-awaited debut between the sticks on Saturday.
Defence
With Sergio Ramos still recovering and Marquinhos due back with PSG on Friday evening, Thilo Kehrer is likely to partner Presnel Kimpembe at the heart of the team’s defence. Achraf Hakimi and Abdou Diallo should continue at full-back positions in the Paris Saint-Germain lineup.
Predicted Paris Saint-Germain Lineup
Midfield
Pochettino is likely to ring some changes in the middle of the park following Leandro Paredes’ unavailability and Georginio Wijnaldum returning late from international duty. A midfield three of Marco Verratti, Idrissa Gueye and Ander Herrera could get the nod to start against Clermont Foot.
Gueye would sit in front of the back four and stick to his job with Herrera and Verratti controlling the tempo of the game.
Attack
With Messi, Di Maria and Neymar set to be unavailable and Icardi nursing a shoulder injury, talented academy prospect Arnaud Kalimuendo might start in the No.9 role in the Paris Saint-Germain lineup. He could be flanked by Julian Draxler and Kylian Mbappe.
