Defending UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain want to make a strong statement in the first leg against Chelsea FC at the Parc des Princes. The objective is clear: secure an advantage before the return match at Stamford Bridge. But just hours before kickoff, most questions revolve around PSG’s potential starting lineup.
PSG are balancing confidence with uncertainty. Like last season, the Parisian club had to go through the playoff round to reach the Champions League round of 16. Facing AS Monaco, the Parisians secured qualification thanks to a 3-2 victory in the first leg, despite a 2-2 draw in the return match. In Ligue 1, Luis Enrique’s team remains at the top of the table, but their inconsistency raises concerns, especially after a recent 3-1 home defeat against Monaco.
Attack selection remains the key question for PSG
The biggest doubt concerns the attacking line. The expected return of Ousmane Dembélé, who left the first-leg playoff injured, could change Luis Enrique’s plans. The French international is expected to start, but Désiré Doué is also pushing for a place after delivering decisive performances. Around them, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia should occupy the left flank, while Bradley Barcola hopes to finally score in the Champions League, where he has gone more than a year without finding the net.
In midfield, PSG should rely on a trio of Vitinha, João Neves and Warren Zaïre-Emery, a technical combination tasked with controlling possession against Chelsea’s intensity. Fabian Ruiz is still unavailable. At the back, the European champion defense is expected to remain unchanged with Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and the Marquinhos–Willian Pacho partnership in front of goalkeeper Matvei Safonov. Chelsea are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with several attacking threats, including Brazilian duo João Pedro and Estêvão Willian supported by Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández, while Moisés Caicedo anchors the midfield. Despite several absences, including the suspended Mykhailo Mudryk, the Blues arrive with a squad capable of causing serious problems for PSG.
Probable PSG lineup: Safonov – Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes – Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Neves – Barcola, Dembélé (or Doué), Kvaratskhelia. Absentees: Ruiz, Mayulu, Ndjantou (injured). Probable Chelsea lineup: Sanchez – James, Chalobah, Fofana, Gusto – Santos, Caicedo – Palmer, Fernandez, Estevao – Pedro. Absentees: Mudryk (suspended), Colwill, Jorgensen, Cucurella, Gittens, Essugo (injured).
