PSG's possible lineup for Ligue 1 encounter against Bordeaux
PSG have to dust themselves off and move on from their Champions League heartbreak as they take on Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
PSG squandered a 2-0 lead in the last 30 minutes of their Round of 16 tie against Real Madrid to crash out of the Champions League in midweek. Kylian Mbappe extended PSG's lead in the tie to 2-0 in the 39th minute of the game. It looked like Mauricio Pochettino's men had the tie sealed but Karim Benzema had other plans.
The Frenchman produced an absolute blitzkrieg of an onslaught inside the final 30 minutes of the game. He scored a hat-trick to help Real Madrid overcome the odds to win the tie 3-2. The Champions League is the one title that PSG have been chasing with all their heart and the result has obviously brought in a sense of gloom all around Paris.
But PSG won't have time to rest on their laurels as they return to Ligue 1 action on Sunday. Without further ado, let's take a look at how PSG could line up against Bordeaux on Sunday.
PSG Goalkeeper - Keylor Navas
Gianluigi Donnarumma was on the receiving end of Karim Benzema's 17 minute hat-trick on Wednesday. Keylor Navas was spared the blushes against his former side thanks to Mauricio Pochettino's goalkeeper rotation policy. But the Costa Rican international will return to keep on Sunday.
Right-back - Achraf Hakimi
Achraf Hakimi has been one of PSG's standout players this season and is very likely to keep his place in the starting XI. He is the player with the most goal contributions in Ligue 1 after PSG's attackers, with three goals and three assists.
Centre-back - Marquinhos
Marquinhos has not been performing at the levels expected of him this season. He was arguably PSG's worst player in the midweek loss to Real Madrid. He was careless inside the box and gave the ball away to Benzema for the third goal that sealed the tie in Real Madrid's favor.
Centre-back - Presnel Kimpembe
Presnel Kimpembe seemed to panic as Real Madrid started their onslaught in the last half hour of the game. But he should be able to keep his place against Bordeaux on Sunday.
Lionel Messi (3) made more successful tackles tonight than PSG's centre-back pairing of Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe combined (1). https://t.co/eeqPCqpEMi
Left-back - Juan Bernat
Juan Bernat has more or less become the first-choice left-back option in the league for Paris Saint-Germain after his return from a long injury layoff. He is expected to be named ahead of Nuno Mendes in the lineup on Sunday.
Central midfielder - Danilo Pereira
Danilo Pereira's workrate and commitment to the common cause has been commendable so far this season. His presence provides Achraf Hakimi the freedom to foray forward with abandon. Pereira produced a mature performance against Real Madrid as well in midweek.
Central midfielder- Leandro Paredes
Leandro Paredes was taken off while the game against Real Madrid was still 1-1 and should be well rested to start here. He was not on the pitch when his team surrendered the lead and is one of the players who came away without much damage being done to his reputation.
Central midfielder - Georginio Wijnaldum
Marco Verratti is suspended as he is serving a ban due to his comments against the referees in the aftermath of PSG's loss to Nice. As a result, Mauricio Pochettino is without his most creative midfielder.
Georginio Wijnaldum's patchy form has been one of PSG's major disappointments this season. But the Dutchman will keep his place in the starting XI due to Verratti's suspension. Wijnaldum will be tasked with providing some thrust from midfield.
Left-winger - Neymar Jr.
Neymar scored two of his four goals in the ongoing Ligue 1 campaign in the reverse fixture against Bordeaux. He played a wonderful pass for Kylian Mbappe's goal in midweek against Real Madrid. It was perhaps the Brazilian international's best performance since returning from injury.
Neymar will keep his place in the starting XI and Paris Saint-Germain will rely on him to provide the creative spark for them.
Striker - Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has been PSG's best player this season by a country mile. He scored both of their goals in the Round of 16 tie against Real Madrid. The Frenchman has scored 16 goals in his last 14 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino's men.
His pace, sheer technical ability and decision-making inside the final third has been the X-factor for Paris Saint-Germain this season.
PSG will give everything to renew Kylian Mbappé. Because of that, either Neymar or Leo Messi will have to leave.
— @OnzeTv3 https://t.co/9O2Om9zaos
Right-winger - Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi did try to put in a shift against Real Madrid. He made three successful tackles in the process and linked up well with Neymar. However, he faded as the game went on.
Messi has scored just two goals in 17 Ligue 1 appearances this term. But he has provided 10 assists and six of those have come in his last six league outings. The Argentine international will be desperate to get back on the pitch and put the Champions League heartbreak behind him come Sunday.