This Sunday, in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France 2024-2025, Paris Saint-Germain take on Lens at Stade Bollaert (kick-off 9pm, broadcast on beIN SPORTS in France). On the eve of the match, the press tried to guess which team would be fielded by Paris coach Luis Enrique and that of his Lens counterpart Will Still.
Lens :
Le Parisien (5-3-2) –
Nzola – Fulgini
Diouf ou Ojediran – El Aynaoui – Thomasson
Machado – Medina – Danson – Khusanov – Frankowski
Koffi.
L’Equipe (4-4-2) –
Nzola – Fulgini
Chavez – Thomasson – El-Aynaoui – Zaroury
Medina – Danson – Khusanov – Frankowski
Koffi.
Lens has had time to prepare, and this is the last match of 2024, which will be a decisive one at that, so logically we’re expecting the best possible team. But there may be disagreement on this point, given the competition and the exact game plan.
Only Will Still has all the elements, and a surprise is conceivable, such as the change of scheme proposed by Le Parisien to something defensive. As for the 4-4-2, it’s more like a 4-2-3-1 with Fulgini doing a lot of stalling.
PSG :
Le Parisien (4-3-3) –
Doué – Ramos – Dembélé
Neves – Vitinha – Zaïre-Emery
Mendes – Beraldo – Marquinhos – Hakimi
Safonov
L’Equipe (4-3-3) –
Doué – Ramos – Dembélé
Neves – Vitinha – Ruiz
Mendes – Pacho – Marquinhos – Zaïre-Emery
Safonov
Given the players available, every team is possible, although you can never be sure with coach Luis Enrique. There’s almost always a surprise. Not forgetting, as with Lens above, that the competition is also played out during training, which only the staff attend.
On the Parisian side, there’s also physical management with data that we don’t have at our disposal. We don’t have to think about the next match, which won’t be until January 5 (Champions Trophy against Monaco). But precedents do come into play and can weigh on certain players.
Finally, there’s the analysis made of the opponent, with points to press or not. You can have a general idea, but the certainties only come with the official announcement. And even then, you have to see the start of the match to be sure of everyone’s positioning.
