Paris Saint-Germain will be aiming to cement their position atop the Ligue 1 rankings when they welcome an out-of-sorts Montpellier HSC to the Parc des Princes on Friday evening.
The hosts overcame Angers 1-0 last Saturday to move to the top of the pile, whereas Montpellier's winless run continued with a 3-2 defeat to Monaco.
Just days after witnessing his PSG team triumph in the Trophee des Champions for his first ever piece of silverware, Mauricio Pochettino contracted coronavirus and was forced to miss the trip to Angers.
Without the Argentine barking orders from the touchline, PSG were far from their free-flowing best despite lining up from the start with Angel Di Maria, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and the winner came from an unlikely source in left-back Layvin Kurzawa at the Stade Raymond Kopa.
Kurzawa rifled home at the back post to win the game for PSG last weekend, but he then had to be substituted with a calf problem just before full time.
The left-back has since participated in training and should be good to go for this game, but Mitchel Bakker is on standby if required, while COVID-positive duo Thilo Kehrer and Colin Dagba remain out.
However, Rafinha has recovered from a bout of coronavirus and is available for this one, unlike Pochettino, who continues to self-isolate after testing positive.
Abdou Diallo has displaced Presnel Kimpembe at the back and looks set to keep his spot after another clean sheet, while Mauro Icardi will hope to earn a start up top over Moise Kean.
Montpellier have no injury or coronavirus-related concerns for this game, but midfielder Jordan Ferri is suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Joris Chotard should therefore earn a recall to the first XI, while the fit-again Teji Savanier is also expected to return to the midfield, potentially in place of Florent Mollet.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Diallo, Kurzawa; Verratti, Paredes; Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe; Icardi
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Sambia, Congre, Mendes, Cozza, Ristic; Chotard, Le Tallec, Savanier; Delort, Laborde
0 Comments