After weeks of speculation, we finally know who will start for Paris Saint-Germain against Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes.
The starting eleven 🆚@BVB! 👊
🔴🔵#ICICESTPARIS pic.twitter.com/mYL8k4ijRy
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) March 11, 2020
🚨 Compo #PSG : Navas – Kehrer, Marquinhos (c), Kimpembe, Bernat – Di Maria, Gueye, Paredes, Neymar – Cavani, Sarabia.
Alignement en 4-4-2. Mbappé sur le banc, Sarabia le remplace. Cavani débute à la place d’Icardi. Bernat et Paredes titulaires. Marquinhos en défense.#PSGBVB pic.twitter.com/bycOcZUo3w
— Hadrien (@hadrien_grenier) March 11, 2020
The big surprise, if you want to call it that, is Kylian Mbappé who only returned to training this morning after being out the last two days with a severe sore throat and fever. Replacing the Frenchman in the starting lineup is Pablo Sarabia who will play up front with Edinson Cavani.
On the wings, Neymar Jr. and Angel Di Maria start as expected. This is the first time the Brazil international has played in the second leg of a Champions League knockout stage match for PSG since he arrived in 2017.
In the midfield is another surprise. Leandro Paredes replaces Marquinhos who is forced to play center-back due to the absence of Thiago Silva. Next to Paredes is Idrissa Gueye. If the former Everton FC man can emulate his performance against Real Madrid at the Parc back in the group stage, PSG should be in good shape.
On defense, we already mentioned Marquinhos and he will pair up with Presnel Kimpembe at center-back. Juan Bernat gets the nod from Tuchel at left-back and Thilo Kehrer steps in at right-back.
Mbappé is on the bench along with Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler, Tanguy Kouassi, Layvin Kurzawa, Abdou Diallo, and Sergio Rico. Depending on how the match goes, I would expect to see Mbappé around the 60th-minute mark. If Cavani fails to produce, Tuchel could make a change and bring on Icardi to start the second half. Keep an eye on Kouassi as well. He can play in the midfield or on defense. If the midfield is overrun, Tuchel may shift Marquinhos up and bring the 17-year-old on to play center-back.
The players have been welcomed by the Ultras, who cannot enter the stadium due to concern over the coronavirus, and now it’s time for the players to step up and get the job done.
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