Paris Saint-Germain begins their quest for the final Coupe de la Ligue trophy on Wednesday as they take on Le Mans at the MMArena.
It’s the second to last game of 2019 and manager Thomas Tuchel will want to continue PSG’s recent string of outstanding performances. Against AS Saint-Étienne, PSG won 4-0 and before that, PSG defeated Galatasaray S.K. 5-0. I expect a similar result against Le Mans who currently sits at the bottom of Ligue 2.
Tuchel shouldn’t need his best starting XI so I expect the manager to rotate the squad somewhat. He will have to accommodate for the absence of five players who are out due to injury and illness.
Presnel Kimpembe is out with a hamstring injury, Idrissa Gueye continues to miss time due to a muscle injury as well, and Abdou Diallo and Julian Draxler are both out sick (Draxler was suspended for the match as well).
Edinson Cavani also is out of the lineup, which is disheartening to hear after that special moment of him scoring a penalty kick against Galatasaray. According to Tuchel, El Matador felt something after scoring his third goal of the season.
“It might just be a muscle strain. Maybe it is not a big thing, but he is not feeling very free,” Tuchel said. “He [Cavani] is a little bit scared of being injured again.”
PSG has won five of the last six Coupe de la Ligue titles with RC Strasbourg winning the trophy last season.
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