What team will Luis Enrique field on Friday night against Lille? After the 2-2 draw at Rennes, PSG’s starting lineup will be closely watched. This time, several changes could be on the cards.
Will PSG be completely reshuffled against LOSC? Not necessarily, but adjustments are expected. The first clue came directly from the Rennes match. Unhappy with the first half, Luis Enrique took off Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the break. It was a strong decision that could have consequences for the starting XI in Lille.
Ferran Torres pushing hard for a start
The leading candidate to start is obviously Ferran Torres. Introduced at half-time in Rennes, the Spaniard scored both PSG goals and helped the team come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. After such an impact, it is difficult not to imagine Torres starting in Lille. His ability to play centrally or out wide also gives Luis Enrique several options, while Mika Godts, who also came on at the break in Rennes, could hope for more playing time. Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia are not necessarily certain to be dropped, however. Luis Enrique made it clear after the game that reputation will protect no one this season and every player will have to earn his place in training and matches. The week of work at the PSG Campus will therefore be crucial, while Senny Mayulu could also return after being left out against Rennes.
The midfield could also change. Fabian Ruiz made a decisive impact at Rennes with two assists after coming on and can logically push for a place in the starting lineup. Vitinha and João Neves remain natural candidates to start, while Warren Zaïre-Emery could be affected by Luis Enrique’s rotation policy. Competition is now fierce in almost every position.
One thing is certain in defence: Nuno Mendes will still be unavailable as the Portuguese left-back continues to serve his three-match suspension and will therefore miss the trip to Lille. Luis Enrique will again have to find a solution on the left, with Lucas Hernandez one of the most natural options. Marquinhos and Pacho started centrally at Rennes, with Hakimi on the right, although further adjustments remain possible depending on training this week. Several days before the game, it is still too early to speak of a definitive lineup, but the Rennes performances already provide some clues. An early possible XI could be: Safonov – Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Hernandez – João Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz – Doué, Ferran Torres, Kvaratskhelia (or Godts).
