This Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain faces Manchester United at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg in a friendly match (kick-off at 5 PM, CET). Paris coach Luis Enrique must select his starting XI after finalizing the squad for the fixture.
Predicting the lineup for a pre-season friendly is always tricky. It all depends on the specific objective and the fitness levels of the individual players. The situation is particularly complex regarding Marquinhos, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha, who only returned to training on Monday. While they could start, it is far from guaranteed; they are likely to see some game time, but might begin as substitutes—much like Willian Pacho did against Mallorca on Wednesday.
Several options are emerging with the return of various players. Given the versatility instilled by coach Luis Enrique, a range of combinations is possible. Senny Mayulu is a prime example; the academy graduate can play as a false nine, a midfielder, or a full-back. While we await confirmation of the starting lineup, we can expect to see a team on the pitch at some point that is geared towards preparing for the UEFA Super Cup match against Aston Villa next Wednesday.
Possible lineup:
Kvaratskhelia – Mayulu – Mbaye
Dro – Vitinha – Neves
Mendes – Pacho – Marquinhos – Zabarnyi
Safonov.
Substitutes: Chevalier, Longoni, Boly, Fanné-Dramé, Koukaba, Lucea, Abo El Nay, Beraldo, Bourdin, Idder, Ndjantou, A. Ayari, Meïté.
Out : Akliouche, Hakimi, Hernandez, Ruiz, Zaïre-Emery, Barcola, Dembélé, Doué (vacation or return to training).
