After the success at Old Trafford against Manchester (3-1), PSG returned to Ligue 1 where he remained in pain: defeat in Monaco (3-2) after leading 2-0, draw conceded at Parc des Princes against Bordeaux (2-2) last Saturday.
Already deprived of Neymar, who dreams of playing with Messi next season, Verratti and Kimpembe, who remained in Paris to rest, Paris is happening in Montpellier at the kickoff of Kylian Mbappé. The striker who has not scored for three games and remains blocked at 99 goals in the jersey of PSG will blow. Mauro Icardi still injured and absent from the group too, Moise Kean was preferred to him.
Friday, Thomas Tuchel had hinted that he was considering this possibility. “We must also make the decision based on Tuesday’s match (against Istanbul), he said. The team will have to push (Editor’s note: in Montpellier) and we cannot have the excuse of fatigue. There may be some change. I don’t worry about Kylian. He had a good match in Manchester, had a great impact, chained the offensive and defensive sprints. He was always dangerous with his dribbling and speed. He didn’t score but it will come. We’re going to create opportunities for him. He can be calm, so am I. “
Pembélé continues in defense
Even if he would probably have preferred to play in Manchester, Angel Di Maria finds for his part the starting lineup after two successive absences in the eleven. “It’s only a sporting decision,” Tuchel assured. We left the Argentine very unhappy to come out in the 64th minute of the Champions League game against Leipzig. His coming into play at the very end of the match at Old Trafford was ultimately thwarted by Diallo’s cramps. The Argentine midfielder will have the opportunity, in the absence of Neymar, to ensure a good part of the offensive animation of his team.
Note, moreover, that the young Timothée Pembélé, 18, who has just extended his contract until 2024, will play his second match in Ligue 1, after the one against Bordeaux last week. This time he will be associated not with Kimpembe but with Abdou Diallo in a defense that could have 5 players but not Marquinhos who blows after his great performance in Manchester.
PSG against Montpellier: Navas – Dagba, Pembélé, Diallo, Kurzawa, Bakker – Herrera, Gueye, Rafinha – Kean, Di Maria. Substitutes: Rico, Kehrer, Marquinhos, Florenzi, Walls, Danilo, Ruiz, Fatigue, Mbappé.
