Paris Saint-Germain will resume its 2022-23 Ligue 1 season when they face Strasbourg on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. However, the French giants will take the pitch without Lionel Messi.
The 35-year-old is still on vacation after helping Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup and will not return to the French giants until the new year. As a result, it presents an opportunity for Hugo Ekitike.
GOAL’s Marc Mechenoua reported on Tuesday (h/t Canal Supporters) that it will be indeed Ekitike that gets the chance to replace Messi in the starting 11. The 20-year-old will slide into the No. 9 role, allowing Kylian Mbappe more freedom to roam around.
🚨 | En l’absence de Leo Messi, Hugo Ekitike devrait être titulaire face à Strasbourg 💎🇫🇷
📲 @LeMechenoua #PSGRCSA pic.twitter.com/19ijcO4cyT
— Canal Supporters (@CanalSupporters) December 27, 2022
It’s been a challenging transition for Ekitike, who arrived this past summer transfer window at PSG from Stade de Reims, but the young goal scorer did notch his first goal with the French giants right before the World Cup break against AJ Auxerre on Nov. 13.
After getting that first goal, Ekitike hopes it will open the floodgates for him as he has the talent to play at PSG; he just has to show it consistently out on the pitch.
