The highly anticipated Champions League final is set for Saturday evening, and for Paris Saint-Germain, a key question looms: will star players Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembélé be fit enough to feature in the starting lineup for the reigning champions?
Manager Luis Enrique faces some challenging decisions as he finalizes his squad. Here’s a breakdown of PSG’s probable composition for the monumental clash.
In goal, Matvej Safonov is expected to take his place between the posts. He unexpectedly became the preferred choice over Lucas Chevalier midway through the season.
The left-back position appears set with Nuno Mendes, a Portuguese international who has established himself as one of PSG’s pivotal figures.
The central defensive pairing will likely consist of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, forming a robust barrier at the heart of the defense.
Hakimi’s starting status in doubt?
On the right flank, Enrique must weigh his options regarding Hakimi, who has not seen game time since the semi-final encounter against Bayern Munich. Despite this, the Moroccan international is widely anticipated to start, taking precedence over Warren Zaïre-Emery.
While the talented French youngster could easily slot into midfield, a well-established trio has solidified their positions there throughout the campaign. João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz are all expected to be deployed against Arsenal.
Upfront, Enrique’s attacking selections present further dilemmas. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is projected to start on the left wing. The Georgian attacker is an undisputed starter within the Spanish coach’s attacking scheme. Leading the line as the main striker will be Ousmane Dembélé.
Initial concerns about Dembélé’s physical condition have subsided, with expectations that he will be fully recovered and ready for kick-off. On the right wing, Enrique is likely to favor Désiré Doué, potentially ahead of Bradley Barcola and Portuguese forward Gonçalo Ramos.
Paris Saint-Germain’s probable starting XI: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendès; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia.
