Luis Enrique called up 20 players for Lille-PSG, this Friday evening at 8:45pm. Six absences are to be noted on the Parisian side, including one that wasn't necessarily expected.
João Neves will not be involved. The Portuguese, whom some projections still saw as a starter just hours earlier, is ultimately ruled out due to illness. This is therefore neither an injury, nor a suspension, nor a rotation decision.
A growing list of absentees
The other absences were more expected:
- Ousmane Dembélé is being rested until Monday, in agreement with the coaching staff.
- Nuno Mendes is serving the second of his three-match suspension.
- Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye are not making the trip, their situations still linked to the transfer window.
- Quentin Ndjantou was not selected by Luis Enrique.
That's a lot for a trip to Lille, even though PSG still have a sufficiently deep squad.
A midfield to reorganise
In midfield, Luis Enrique can call on Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Dro Fernández and Senny Mayulu. Lucas Beraldo is also an option in the middle of the park, a role he now knows well having been regularly used there.
João Neves' absence therefore mainly forces the Parisian coach to review the distribution of roles and the balance of his midfield, rather than to invent a new solution. The question will notably be whether Luis Enrique favours a more classic trio around Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Zaïre-Emery, or whether he uses Beraldo to bring more security and control in the axis.
Ferran Torres up front, Digne facing his former club
Up front, Ferran Torres should take advantage of Dembélé's absence to start. The Spaniard is coming off a brace from the bench in Rennes, during the spectacular 2-2 draw. Le Parisien places him in the likely starting eleven alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué.
On the left of the defence, Lucas Digne is also expected to start. The former Lille player could therefore face his old club in a particularly anticipated match.
Lille also weakened
On the other side, Lille also have to deal with several absences. Matias Fernandez-Pardo has been left out until the end of the transfer window, while Hamza Igamane is still injured. Tanguy Nianzou, meanwhile, is available again but was ultimately not called up.
LOSC, however, get their captain Benjamin André back, returning after his suspension.
The Lille squad also includes several players already involved in departures or transfer-related situations. This is why some sources count seven absentees, notably including players on their way out. However, it is more relevant to distinguish sporting absences from transfer-market matters.
Lille therefore arrive having taken three points at Angers, while PSG are coming off a spectacular draw in Rennes. For the French champions, João Neves' absence adds an extra difficulty to an already tricky away trip.
A midfield to reorganise, Dembélé rested and a transfer window that continues to weigh on the squad: Luis Enrique must find the right formula tonight.
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