By Betsefy
Paris Saint-Germain are set to be without three players for their Ligue 1 trip to Reims on Saturday afternoon.
Nuno Mendes was forced off midway through the second half in the 1-1 Champions League draw against Benfica on Wednesday with a muscle injury, and head coach Christophe Galtier has since revealed that the left-back is set to miss the next “few games”.
The Parisians will also be without centre-back Presnel Kimpembe and midfielder Renato Sanches due to respective hamstring and groin injuries.
Juan Bernat is set to replace Mendes at left wing-back, while Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos and Danilo Pereira could all retain their places in the back three.
Marco Verratti returned to the first XI in midweek after missing the 2-1 Ligue 1 win over Nice last weekend due to a minor calf problem, and the Italian is expected to continue in centre-midfield alongside either Vitinha or Fabian Ruiz.
Galtier revealed after the draw with Benfica that Lionel Messi requested to come off in the final 10 minutes due to fatigue, but the 35-year-old – who scored the opener in Lisbon – should have no problems making the first XI on Saturday, joining fellow attacking stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the front three.
The likes of Pablo Sarabia, Hugo Ekitike, Carlos Soler and Nordi Mukiele will all be pushing to start this weekend, but the quartet will likely remain as options on the substitutes’ bench for Galiter.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Ramos, Marquinhos, Danilo; Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Bernat; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar
