The absence of Joao Neves in midfield on Tuesday in Lisbon could encourage Luis Enrique to try a move in defense…
PSG regained color on Friday against Lille. Just four days after their elimination against Paris FC in the Coupe de France, the European champions won 3-0 on the pitch at the Parc des Princes and reassured themselves. Luis Enrique’s men now intend to continue on Tuesday against Sporting.
As against Lille, the Rouge et Bleu will nevertheless have to deal with several notable players. In defense, PSG will notably be deprived of Lucas Hernandez, suspended, and Achraf Hakimi, not yet back from the CAN. Further up, Kang-In Lee, Quentin Djantou, Ibrahim Mbaye, Quentin Ndjantou and especially Joao Neves are missing.
And the Portuguese midfielder’s absence could prompt Luis Enrique to reconsider his plans. While he was used to aligning Warren Zaire-Emery in the right lane to compensate for the absence of Achraf Hakimi, the native of Montreuil, increasingly comfortable in this right-back role, could indeed find a place in midfield against Sporting.
Zabarny lined up in the right lane?
In which case, it is Illia Zabarny who would be aligned on the right side of the defense, as was the case in the second half, Friday, against Lille after the exit of Senny Mayulu. For the rest, Luis Enrique should do the classic with in particular a Marquinhos-Pacho hinge in central defense or a Doué-Dembélé-Kvaratskhelia trident at the forefront.
Note that if Warren Zaire-Emery was finally returned to the right side of the defense, Désiré Doué should move back down to midfield and Bradley Barcola would start the match on the right flank of the attack.
The probable line-up of PSG against Sporting:
Chevalier – Zabarnyi, Marquinhos (cap.), Pacho, Mendes – Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz – Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia.
