Tonight, Paris Saint-Germain host Liverpool for a top-of-the-table clash in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg. Luis Enrique and Arne Slot will bring out the big guns at the Parc des Princes.
Paris is magical and wants to stay that way. In recent weeks, the team led by Luis Enrique has been stringing together good results and, above all, impressing everyone, both on the French stage and in the Champions League. After easily overcoming the Brest obstacle in the play-offs, the French champions will face one of the big names in the competition: Liverpool. Top of the class during the championship phase of this new C1, the Reds have long seemed untouchable while playing attractive football under the orders of Arne Slot, who has perfectly managed to settle into the seat left vacant by Jürgen Klopp. But the Dutchman expects a very competitive encounter against Paris Saint-Germain, who will play this first act in the French capital.
To be the Princes of the Parc tonight, Marquinhos’ teammates will have a lot to do. But they are full of confidence and success. Enough to reassure Luis Enrique, who should bet on a 4-3-3. In goal, there is no suspense since it is Gianluigi Donnarumma who will start. In front of him, we will find a defensive quartet composed, from left to right, of Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi. To win the midfield battle, “Lucho” should do without Warren Zaire-Emery, recently back from injury. It is a priori a trio of Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and João Neves who should start the match against the Mersey club.
Long-distance duel between Dembélé and Salah
Up front, the Asturian should rely on Ousmane Dembélé, who is lined up at the top. The latter is also the player most feared by the English on the Parisian side. To support him, Bradley Barcola (and not “Broccoli” as a Reds fan called him), on the left, and Désiré Doué, on the right, are holding the rope. But the Khvicha Kvaratskhelia option should not be ruled out. Arriving during the last winter transfer window, the Georgian, desired by Luis Enrique, will have his say. Opposite, Arne Slot should opt for a 4-2-3-1. To guard the goals, he will rely on the experienced Alisson Becker. The defense will be made up of Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Trent Alexander-Arnold. They will all have their work cut out to muzzle the Parisian attackers.
In midfield, the Alexis Mac Allister-Ryan Gravenberch pair will be in charge. Up front, Luis Diaz, Dominik Szoboszlai and the unstoppable Mohamed Salah will be associated. The Egyptian is particularly feared by PSG, who know that he is capable of anything while he has already scored 30 goals and delivered 22 assists in 39 matches in all competitions this season. Figures that make your head spin. Salah, who is currently the favorite in the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, knows that he will have to pull out all the stops tonight, he who will have the mission of supporting Diogo Jota, lined up at the top, in order to break through the Parisian barrier and find the back of the net during this first act in the French capital. A clash of the Titans that promises to be a good one!
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