This Tuesday, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) face Villarreal (19th) at the Estadio de la Cerámica for Matchday 4 of the 2026-2027 Champions League (kick-off at 9:00 PM, CET). Having finalized the squad for this encounter, PSG manager Luis Enrique must now select his starting eleven—a decision that requires weighing the nature of the opponent, upcoming fixtures, and the risk of suspensions.
As is often the case, predicting the lineup chosen by Luis Enrique is no easy task. The manager is known for his ability to spring surprises, balancing internal competition with squad management and a desire to instill confidence in every player. He also carefully analyzes exactly what is—or isn’t—required to secure a win against the specific opponent at hand.
Nevertheless, certain “pillars” have emerged, and it would be a surprise to see them on the bench during a Champions League match. Unfortunately, a number of injuries have also affected the squad, limiting the available options. Even so, the team remains well-stocked, boasting plenty of quality and tactical versatility.
Possible Lineup:
Doué – Mayulu – Akliouche
Ruiz – Vitinha – Neves
Zaïre-Emery – Pacho – Zabarnyi – Hakimi
Safonov
Substitutes: Chevalier, Longoni, Boly, Digne, Hernandez, Beraldo, Dro, Godts, Ndjantou, Torres.
Out – Marquinhos, Mendes, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia (blessure).
Players at risk of suspension due to yellow cards: None.
