PSG: what midfielder against Dortmund?

Major European games are often won in the midfield, as demonstrated by OL in their victory over Juventus Turin (1-0) on Wednesday evening. In this area, the big armada of PSG suddenly appears helpless within two weeks of its match against Dortmund in the knockout stages of the Champions League (1-2 defeat in the first leg). Last weekend, the injuries of Ander Herrera and especially Thiago Silva further complicated the situation for Thomas Tuchel. The latter will have to twist their brains in order to find the best formula.

The Paris captain's forfeit, which, unless there is a miracle, will not force the Parisian coach to bring Marquinhos down in central defense next to Presnel Kimpembe. The German coach would have the opportunity to associate Abdou Diallo, back from injury, and Kimpembe, but this duo lacks experience and benchmarks.

Ditto for a hinge composed of Kimpembe and Thilo Kehrer. In any case, the latter should be brought to occupy the position of right back after the suspension of Thomas Meunier and the injury of Colin Dagba in the knee.

The Gueye-Paredes duo holds the rope

The pair Kimpembe - Marquinhos presents guarantees since it is the one that had extinguished Messi, Suarez and others during the 4-0 at Parc des Princes, on February 14, 2017, in the knockout stages of the Champions League. But this association automatically deprives Tuchel of an additional solution in the midfield where the tactician already deplores the absences of Marco Verratti (suspended) and Herrera (thigh).

As against Manchester United, to go last season, it is therefore the Parisian midfielder who lacks resources. Last year, Thomas Tuchel had found martingale by associating Verratti and Marquinhos, well helped by Bernat in an evolutionary role, Di Maria and Dani Alves in lane players. This season, if the Parisian coach decides to maintain his 4-4-2, the natural solution would be to associate Leandro Paredes with Idrissa Gueye, extremely disappointing to go to Signal Iduna Park. The Argentinian, who had not made the trip to the Ruhr, does not play in the same register as Verratti and does not share his technical fluency. But he has a pass quality and a defensive vice which may have been lacking in Paris on the way out.

There is also the possibility of launching Tanguy Kouassi or asking Julian Draxler to go down a notch. But the first seems a little tender for these European games and the second has not really convinced lately. Their use could essentially be linked to the establishment of a medium with three elements.

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Unless in this scheme Tuchel decides to reposition Pablo Sarabia or Juan Bernat, which seems unlikely and would entail, for the latter, a tenure of Layvin Kurzawa as left side. While waiting to complete this eminently decisive match sheet, the Parisian coach will above all cross his fingers so as not to count new injuries by then…