Paris Saint-Germain Set for Champions League Playoff Return Leg with Almost Full Squad
Ahead of the crucial second leg of their Champions League playoff clash against Brest on Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain will welcome back a nearly fully fit squad. The Parisian giants hold a comfortable 3-0 advantage from the first leg last week and will be looking to seal their berth in the next round.
However, manager Luis Enrique will still be without the services of Warren Zaïre-Emery, who continues to rehabilitate an ankle injury sustained in the 4-1 victory over Stuttgart in the same competition on January 29th. The 18-year-old French international has been sidelined since and will not feature in the upcoming match.
"We’re not taking any risks with our players," Enrique said on Tuesday. "His injury is progressing well, but he’s still some way off from rejoining the team."
On a more positive note, teenage forward Ibrahim Mbaye, who had also been nursing an ankle injury, is now back in contention.
Apart from Zaïre-Emery, another notable absentee from Tuesday’s training session at the Paris Saint-Germain Campus was Lucas Hernandez.
The French defender’s absence raised concerns about a potential setback, but the club clarified that he had been granted a leave of absence for personal reasons.
"In agreement with the sporting director and the coach, Lucas Hernandez was excused from training today," the club stated.
All indications suggest that Hernandez, a former Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid player, will be available for selection against Brest at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Key Concerns for Brest
Brest, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to overturn their three-goal deficit. The Brittany club will be without the suspended Noah Fadiga and the injured Anthony Musaba and Denys Bain.
Coach Eric Roy will be hoping that his team can replicate their impressive performance in the first leg, where they managed to hold PSG to a goalless draw for over an hour.
Predicted Lineups
Paris Saint-Germain:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Mendes; Verratti, Danilo Pereira, Vitinha; Messi, Neymar, Mbappe
Brest:
Bizot; Lala, Duverne, Chardonnet, Brassier; Coulibaly, Belkebla; Le Douaron, Magnetti, Del Castillo; Da Silva
Preview
Despite their comfortable first-leg advantage, PSG will be wary of Brest’s resilience. The Ligue 1 giants will be aiming to avoid any complacency and secure their passage to the next round of the Champions League.
Brest will be desperate to cause an upset and will need to produce a flawless performance to have any chance of advancing.
The match promises to be highly entertaining, with PSG’s attacking firepower pitted against Brest’s defensive solidity. The atmosphere at the Parc des Princes is expected to be electric as both teams battle for a place in the next stage of Europe’s elite club competition.
