While PSG already had eight players dismissed due to injury or as a precaution, Thomas Tuchel decided not to take any risk in Lorient, this Sunday in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France (8:55 pm, Eurosport 2). The two attacking stars, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, will start on the bench, as will Presnel Kimpembe.
Kylian Mbappé and Neymar had fun with their understudy status and the number allocated to them for the occasion. In the first rounds of the Coupe de France, teams must use the numbers 1 to 11 at kick-off. As a result, the Brazilian received number 12 and the Frenchman number 14, which prompted the latter to send a wink on social networks to Falcao, star of futsal, and Thierry Henry, famous carriers of these numbers.
Small tribute to the cracks tonight 🤪 @ Falcao12oficial x @ThierryHenry pic.twitter.com/4zKG6qp6KA
- Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) January 19, 2020Absences and choices benefit the usual liners. A decision expected after two championship games against Monaco and on a lawn in a very uncertain state. Paredes, Diallo, Kurzawa and Sarabia are notably titular. The team should evolve in 4-2-3-1, with Julian Draxler as playmaker behind Mauro Icardi. Among the usual executives, Thiago Silva, Idrissa Gueye and Angel Di Maria are the only other holders.
A bench limited by injuries
As in all national cup matches since the start of the season, Keylor Navas was not even called. Sergio Rico will be titular and Marcin Bulka will be on the bench in Brittany. Kehrer suffers from a crack in a toe. Verratti was hit in the right shoulder. Bernat (calf) will resume training at the beginning of the week, while Cavani is still in delicacy with a hip.
Marquinhos (adductor) and Meunier (low back pain) are not far from a comeback. The young Kouassi (sick) and Aouchiche (contusion to one thigh) are the last two absent from a very revamped PSG.
The starting lineup of PSG in Lorient: Rico - Dagba, Thiago Silva, Diallo, Kurzawa - Gueye, Paredes - Di Maria, Draxler, Sarabia - Icardi.
