After his press conference earlier today where he gave a status update on several players, Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel named his 19-man squad that will face Angers SCO in a battle between the top two teams in Ligue 1.
Few expected for Angers to be second in the table at this point in the season but after years of excellent transfer business and top-notch scouting, they have put together a squad that could potentially cause PSG trouble at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. Their attack, led by Rachid Alioui, has scored more goals than any other team in the league (16) but will face a PSG side that has the best defense in the league (4 goals conceded).
Tuchel’s men have struggled against Ligue 1 opponents this season despite sitting top of the table. They’ve already lost to Stade Rennais and Stade de Reims and if not for Neymar Jr.’s three game-winning goals, they would be hovering around fifth place with Olympique de Marseille. Neymar is in the squad, thankfully, but there are several key absentees as well. Here are the players that will be available to Tuchel against Angers and those who will miss the action:
Goalkeepers: Marcin Bulka, Keylor Navas, Sergio Rico
Defenders: Juan Bernat, Abdou Diallo, Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa, Thomas Meunier, Thiago Silva
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye, Ander Herrera, Marquinhos, Leandro Paredes, Pablo Sarabia, Marco Verratti
Attackers: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi, Neymar Jr.,
OUT: Adil Aouchiche, Mitchel Bakker, Edinson Cavani, Colin Dagba, Julian Draxler, Garissone Innocent, Thilo Kehrer, Tanguy Kouassi, Kylian Mbappé, Loïc Mbe Soh
We mentioned Neymar’s late-game heroics, so it’s great to see the Brazilian in the lineup and you can expect him to start along with Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi, who scored his first goal for PSG in the UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray S.K. last Tuesday. I also like Idrissa Gueye, Marquinhos, and Marco Verratti to play in the midfield—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Finally, on defense, I think Tuchel will go with Juan Bernat, Thiago Silva, Presnel Kimpembe, Thomas Meunier as the back four and Keylor Navas in goal.
I hesitate slightly to choose Meunier to start at right-back because the manager did mention that the Belgian is experiencing a bit of stiffness from all of the minutes he’s been playing. He has been in decent form recently so you would like to see him against Angers but if not, Abdou Diallo may be called upon to fill in there since Colin Dagba is out with an injury.
Paris will want to continue the positive momentum they have built up in recent weeks with the international break looming. After Saturday, we won’t see the capital club in action until October 18 when PSG travel to OGC Nice for a Ligue 1 match.
We’ll have more on this highly anticipated game tomorrow so make sure to follow on social media and check back often. Allez Paris!
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