Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League campaign started with an efficient 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, but they’ll now feel the wrath of a fervent St. James’ Park on Matchday 2.
Luis Enrique’s start to life in the French capital has been a mixed bag. While PSG have teased their apex at the beginning of the Spaniard’s tenure, they’re yet to put together a succession of convincing performances.
After thumping Marseille 4-0 in Le Classique two weekends ago, PSG were then held to a stalemate by the lowly Clermont Foot ahead of Wednesday’s game. Nevertheless, the ‘vibe’ seems to be positive within Les Parisiens’ camp in the absence of multiple superstars and there’s a real chance this PSG outfit eventually achieve what their star-studded iterations of recent years failed to do.
Nevertheless, they’ve got a long way to go until they can think about winning this competition. Their focus, for now, is solely on Newcastle and here’s how they could line up on Tyneside.
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma – PSG will likely be without both of Donnarumma’s deputies on Wednesday night – not that his number one status is exactly under threat anyway.
CB: Milan Skriniar – Skriniar will undoubtedly welcome the switch to a back three given that he excelled under Antonio Conte during Inter’s title-winning 2020/21 campaign.
CB: Marquinhos – The leader of this PSG side will marshal his troops from the centre of Enrique’s back three. He’ll have his hands full up against Alexander Isak.
CB: Lucas Hernandez – The wide-centre back role suits Hernandez down to the ground and he should come back into the team after getting a rest at the weekend.
RWB: Achraf Hakimi – A wing-back by trade, Hakimi’s proficiency in attacking areas renders him a distinct threat to the Magpies on Wednesday. He scored a beauty in PSG’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 1.
CM: Manuel Ugarte – While Ugarte does have some deficiencies in possession, he’ll likely be deployed by Enrique on Wednesday for his aggression and defensive prowess against a physical Newcastle midfield.
CM: Vitinha – The Portuguese star is slowly emerging as one of Europe’s best box-to-box midfielders. His slight frame is compensated by supreme guile in and out of possession.
LWB: Bradley Barcola – The promising youngster could be deployed out of position again after Nuno Mendes suffered a hamstring injury which will keep him out until the start of 2024.
RW: Ousmane Dembele – While the Frenchman hasn’t enjoyed the most productive start in Paris, Dembele is enjoying life in a familiar environment. Perhaps this will be the game where his career with his new club truly ignites.
ST: Goncalo Ramos – Enrique could rotate his centre-forward option with Ramos replacing Randal Kolo Muani.
LW: Kylian Mbappe – Given the lack of pace on the right side of Newcastle’s defence, Mbappe will back himself to enjoy a big outing at St. James’ on Wednesday.
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