Leo Messi will not play today at the Parc des Princes in the match that Paris Saint-Germain will play against Benfica on matchday four of the Champions League group stage. This was announced by PSG while specifying that the Argentine’s withdrawal was due to a “slight irritation” in a calf.
Messi was substituted in the 81st minute of Benfica-PSG (1-1) last week and did not participate in Reims-PSG on Saturday in Ligue 1 (0-0). He did not do it as a precaution and is waiting to see if he arrives in time for today, but he is also unavailable for Christophe Galtier because the discomfort continues and Leo could return on Sunday in a classic against Marseille in Parc des Princes. Kimpembe, Renato Sanches and Nuno Mendes are also out.
PSG are on track to enter the round of 16, with 7 points, the same as Benfica, while Juventus have 3. The French champions will qualify with two games to go if they win today and the ‘bianconeri lose ‘ in their visit to Israel against Maccabi Haifa, the lowest team without points and thrashed last week in Turin (3-1).
Without Leo, “other connections”
In Messi’s absence, Galtier urged his players to “find other situations, other connections” after, without the Argentine and Neymar starting on the bench, they were unmarked for the first time this season in Reims.
But Kylian Mbappé, who played 90 minutes, is not happy playing in the ‘9’ position this season, after refusing to go to Real Madrid, because Galtier has not been given the striker they promised him.
Mbappe’s complaints
The striker complained in the last call of the French team.”I have more freedom here than at PSG,” he said on September 23. In this regard, Galtier announced yesterday that “I spoke with him at length on Sunday. It is true that sometimes it is located on the axis with the feeling of being a pivot. But Kylian is a very intelligent player, able to analyze his position and adapt his movements.
Likely lineups
Parc des Princes, 9:00 pm
PSG: Donnarumma; Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos, Danilo Pereira; Achraf, Verratti, Vitinha, Bernat; Sarabia, Neymar; Mbappe
Trainer: Christophe Galtier
Benfica: Vlachodimos; Bah, Otamendi, Antonio Silva, Grimaldo; Florentino, Enzo Fernandez; Diogo Gonçalves, Rafa Silva, João Mário; Goncalo Ramos
Instructor: Roger Schmidt
Referee: Michael Oliver (England) / VAR: Stuart Attwell (England)
Source: La Verdad
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