True to form, Luis Enrique revealed nothing of his intentions, during the last training session, regarding the starting lineup that he will line up this Wednesday evening against FC Barcelona (9 p.m.). If the main lines of the team which will start this quarter-final first leg of the Champions League are more or less known, two positions raise more questions: that of right back, in order to compensate for the suspension of Achraf Hakimi, and as a third striker alongside Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola being too tight to start the match.
“Hakimi’s absence is not a problem, but an opportunity. I have made my decision and you will see it tomorrow,” explained the Spanish coach at a press conference. Who will be the lucky one ? The possibility of seeing Marquinhos tenure at the right-back position that he was able to occupy during the Laurent Blanc era is real. Accustomed to evolving in the axis, the Brazilian could shift a notch to bring balance to his lane and further free up Nuno Mendes, expected on the left.
A Beraldo-Hernandez hinge
The other option on the table would consist of installing Warren Zaire-Emery, who was aligned six times in this register when Hakimi was missing. But it would deprive Luis Enrique of an important solution in midfield. Marquinhos’ European experience in such an appointment could be valuable.
On the offensive line, Kang-in Lee could be associated with the two French world champions and be preferred to Gonçalo Ramos, even if the Portuguese striker is currently going through his best period with PSG. In front of Gianluigi Donnarumma, we should find a hinge composed of Lucas Hernandez and Lucas Beraldo, already started in the 8th return on the Real Sociedad pitch. In midfield, Vitinha, in his usual role of sentinel, and Fabian Ruiz should complete this Parisian starting eleven.
The probable composition of PSG: Donnarumma – Marquinhos (cap.), Hernandez, Beraldo, Nuno Mendes – Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz – Lee, Dembélé, Mbappé.
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