Champions League: what eleven for PSG against Real Sociedad

This was the last dress rehearsal. Before challenging Real Sociedad next Wednesday for the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain, solid leader, had to continue in the championship. Opposed to Lille, fourth at kick-off, for the 21st day of Ligue 1, the Parisians nevertheless presented themselves with a reshuffled eleven. In goals, Gianluigi Donnarumma gave way to Keylor Navas while Warren Zaire-Emery and Kylian Mbappé, affected against Brest, also started on the bench. In defense, Lucas Beraldo was aligned in a left-back role alongside Lucas Hernandez, Danilo Pereira and Nordi Mukiele. In the midfield, Manuel Ugarte and Fabian Ruiz accompanied Marco Asensio. Finally, Ousmane Dembélé and Randal Kolo Muani surrounded Gonçalo Ramos, alone at the forefront. Deprived of six usual starters, the capital club has, despite everything, done the job… with style.

A question for the left-back position…

Buoyed by the achievements of Ramos, Kolo Muani and an own goal from the unfortunate Alexsandro, the reigning French champions have, in fact, never trembled to overcome (3-1) LOSC, defensively fragile and amorphous near the Parisian surface. A victory which does not suffer from any possible dispute and thus allowing the Parisians to temporarily take eleven steps ahead of OGC Nice, opposed to AS Monaco this Sunday evening. More than a favorable result both on an accounting and mental level, this shock above all allowed the various observers to glean some precious clues on the future starting composition decided by Luis Enrique before the reception of the Txuri-urdinak, defeated (0-1 ) against Osasuna on the 24th day of La Liga. With this in mind, Gianluigi Donnarumma, left on the bench against the Mastiffs, is logically expected in the Parisian cages against the Basque club. Number 1 in this position since the start of the season, the Italian goalkeeper should not be worried, despite the rather serious performance of Keylor Navas against the northern team.

“We need all the players and you never know what will happen in the future. All players must be ready, Keylor (Navas, editor’s note) played very well. I want them all to be ready, Keylor has a lot of experience”, however admitted Luis Enrique at a press conference. In front of the Transalpine, however, some questions remain. If Achraf Hakimi, replacing at kick-off, is widely expected to animate the right lane of the Parisian defense and Marquinhos, also left to rest against Lille, should find his place in the Ile-de-France defense, the rest of the back -guard of the Rouge et Bleu remains to be determined. With this in mind, the Parisian technician could decide to start Lucas Hernandez alongside the Brazilian and trust the versatile Nordi Mukiele, very convincing against LOSC, on the left flank. Another possible option? A central hinge formed by Marquinhos and Danilo Pereira and the former Bayern Munich player back on his left side. Once again disappointing against the Northerners, Lucas Beraldo, recruited this winter, seems in any case to be one of the big losers of this evening.

Fabian Ruiz expected, Bradley Barcola acclaimed?

Beyond the doubts surrounding the Parisian defense against Real Sociedad, Luis Enrique will also have to decide for his midfield. Having all his forces present – a rare occurrence to be highlighted before a European meeting of PSG – the former coach of La Roja, despite everything, gave some indications, without his knowledge, against Lille. By removing Fabian Ruiz, replaced by Vitinha, at the hour mark, the Spanish architect of the Rouge et Bleu has perhaps already revealed part of his plans against the Basque team. Indeed, a Fabian Ruiz-Vitinha-Zaire-Emery midfielder (with the Portuguese at the forefront to get out of the pressure as had been planned against Borussia Dortmund) would not be a huge surprise. It now remains to be seen whether Manuel Ugarte, rather convincing against LOSC, can also join the fight. Just like Marco Asensio, very successful in the heart of the Parisian game on Saturday evening. If several uncertainties therefore arise, as we write these lines, on the choices that Luis Enrique is preparing to make, the latter could also face some headaches when composing his attack. For two reasons. The first concerns the left winger position.

On paper and in view of his recent performances – his entry into play against LOSC constitutes an additional argument – Bradley Barcola appears to be the ideal candidate. However, the former Barça coach could favor the option of Kolo Muani, French international and second top scorer for the Parisian club in this 2023/24 L1. Finally, if Ousmane Dembélé – once again brilliant against Lille – should not be worried on the right flank, the number 9 position also leaves a gray area, and not the least. Preserved against LOSC, Mbappé is obviously expected in the Ile-de-France starting eleven but his ankle discomfort after the blow received against Brest and his future sensations could lead Luis Enrique to start Gonçalo Ramos at the forefront of the attack. An unlikely scenario, however, especially after the declarations of the 53-year-old Spaniard, assuring that the Bondynois will be “100% Wednesday evening”. Asked about the future starters lined up against Real Sociedad, the native of Gijón preferred to maintain the mystery.

“I decide it (the starting XI, editor’s note) on the day of the match, after seeing the training. I insist but training is important. I don’t know yet who will play. We will use this performance against one of the most complete teams, which looks like Real Sociedad. It’s going to be difficult but it’s a competition that attracts us. I hope we can give pleasure to the supporters”confided, in this respect, the person concerned at a press conference, refusing however to name players who possibly scored points after the confrontation against LOSC. “When we play matches every three days, the objective is to control the minutes and our objectives are always very demanding. We therefore ensure that most players have their minutes. Looking at the overall performance of the team, we had a very positive and competitive version. It was a pleasure to see the attitude of the players”. Relaunched on the subject of this long-awaited eleven, Danilo Pereira recalled, for his part, that this delicate mission fell to his coach. “We like the competitiveness here. This is how PSG should be, breaking Luis Enrique’s head. There is no difference, everyone who works deserves to play.. Final answer ? Wednesday evening, around 8 p.m.…