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Paris (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain may end another national triple late on Friday when they face Lyon in the French League Cup final, but their streak in the game was overshadowed by Kylian Mbappe’s ankle injury.
The World Cup winner superstar was welcomed into the French Cup final last Friday against Saint-Etienne in the first competitive game on French soil after the arrest imposed by the coronavirus in March.
Mbappe has had a sprained right ankle after a difficult challenge from Loic Perrin of Saint-Etienne and it seems certain that the game that really matters for the Qatar-owned club, the Champions League quarter-final against Atalanta August 12.
On Thursday, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel admitted that it would take “a miracle” for the 21-year-old to recover in time for that game in Lisbon.
Angel Di Maria has already been excluded from that game because of the suspension and asked if there was any hope for Mbappe, Tuchel said: “Yes, always, but it will be tight. Every day counts for us to do a miracle.”
PSG was awarded a third consecutive Ligue 1 title by virtue of being at the top of the league table when the season ended in April with 10 rounds of games not played due to the health crisis.
They came out of the long shutdown to win the fifth French Cup in six years by beating Saint-Etienne 1-0 thanks to a goal by Neymar.
That game was played in front of only 2,800 spectators inside the 80,000-seat Stade de France due to the restrictions on the matches. Friday’s game against Lyon will continue in front of an equally limited number of fans.
– Extra motivation –
Postponed to early April, it will be the last ever final of an unloved competition, even if the one that PSG has also dominated, with five consecutive victories – and eight in total – before Strasbourg won last year.
For both teams, it is the last chance to prepare in a competitive environment before resuming their Champions League campaigns.
PSG will travel to Lisbon for the finals after their victory over Borussia Dortmund on the past 16 March. Meanwhile, Lyon must go to Italy on August 7 to face Juventus defending a 1-0 lead from the first leg of their last 16 draw held in February.
Both clubs fear they will be at a disadvantage as all their Champions League rivals have returned to complete their home seasons while France has opted not to. Juventus and Atalanta play the last Serie A matches this weekend.
However, Tuchel said that the final cannot be used to prepare his team for Atalanta.
“It is not possible to tactically prepare for Atalanta because I don’t know any team that plays like them,” said the German. “The only thing we can prepare is our mentality.”
“Being without Kylian has a big influence, that’s clear. I hope we can find the solution.”
The game will be played in torrid heat, with temperatures in the French capital expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius on Friday.
Lyon have been chasing a first piece of silverware for eight years and have an extra motivation to win the trophy.
Having failed to qualify for Europe next season through the league, Rudi Garcia’s team must beat PSG to secure a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds.
If they fail, they will have to win the Champions League in Lisbon on August 23 to participate in the continental competition again next season.
“This is an excellent opportunity to win a trophy,” said Garcia.
“PSG may be a level above us, but we also have a top-notch team and also the one that is able to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals. There is only positive pressure on us.”
© 2020 AFP
