Messi on the Bench – Team News, Predicted 4-3-3 PSG Lineup vs Lyon | Ligue 1

PSG will resume their Ligue 1 duties on Sunday evening when they travel to Parc Olympique Lyonnais to face Lyon.

The Les Parisians already boast a seemingly unassailable 13-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings. They head into the weekend fixture off the back of a 4-0 thumping of Vannes in the Coupe de France.

Despite enjoying a mammoth lead over second-placed OGC Nice in Ligue 1, Mauricio Pochettino would want his side to not take the foot off the gas and claim all three points at Lyon.

PSG Team News

Paris Saint-Germain have received a big boost after Lionel Messi tested negative for Covid-19 and was allowed to return to France from Argentina on Wednesday.

But the likes of Angel di Maria, Julian Draxler, Layvin Kurzawa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Rico, Danilo Pereira and Nathan Bitumazala have all returned positive for Covid-19 test results earlier this week, meaning Mauricio Pochettino will now certainly be without all of them for the trip to Lyon.

Meanwhile, Sergio Ramos is back in contention after serving a one-game suspension.

Predicted PSG Lineup vs Lyon (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, meaning Keylor Navas is now a certainty to be in the PSG lineup against Lyon. The veteran Costa Rican has become the second-choice goalkeeper of late but he will be raring to stake a claim in the PSG XI on Sunday.

Defence

Marquinhos is widely expected to return to the PSG lineup after being an unused substitute in the Coupe de France win over Vannes. He could partner Presnel Kimpembe at the heart of the PSG backline. With Achraf Hakimi teaming up with the Moroccan national team for the AFCON, Colin Dagba is expected to continue at right-back. Nuno Mendes should retain his position at left-back.

Midfield

As Idrissa Gueye has left PSG for the AFCON and Danilo Pereira has tested positive for Covid-19, Leandro Paredes looks set to start in the holding midfield role against Lyon. Marco Verratti and Ander Herrera would complete the Les Parisians’ midfield, providing creativity and energy to the team.

PSG’s midfield trio will have to work well in tandem to stop Lyon from penetrating through the middle on Sunday.

Attack

Fresh from a hat-trick against Vannes in the French Cup, Kylian Mbappe will offer the biggest threat for PSG with his blistering pace and exquisite dribbling skills. The Frenchman will start on the right flank.

Georginio Wijnaldum did well in an unfamiliar left-wing role against Vannes last weekend and could keep his place in the side. With Neymar injured and Lionel Messi unlikely to be thrown straight into the PSG lineup after recovering from Covid-19, Mauro Icardi will lead the PSG attack against Lyon at the weekend.