After overcoming the covid, finally the Argentine star Lionel Messi returned to a call from Paris Saint Germain to play the duel against Reims for matchday 22 of Ligue 1 where Kylian Mbappé will also be available, recovered from some discomfort in the adductor left.
“It is a satisfaction to see him again in the group”, admitted Rosario coach Mauricio Pochettino when referring to his compatriot, who joined the collective training on Tuesday and whose last game with PSG was on December 22 in the draw against the Lorient.
The former Barça number 10 contracted covid-19 during his Christmas vacation in Rosario. “He has trained well this week,” said Pochettino to justify Messi’s call.
Against Reims, Pochettino will also be able to count on Mbappé, the team’s top scorer this season (19 goals in 27 games, including all competitions) and who did not train with his teammates until this very Saturday, after having dragged throughout the week discomfort in the left adductor.
“I am happy with the way his little problem has evolved. Yes, he’s in the group and we’ll see if he starts tomorrow (Sunday) or not”, replied the coach at a press conference when asked by the Frenchman.
Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas also entered the call, who tested positive for covid-19 last weekend, but this is not the case of Spanish defender Juan Bernat, also affected by the virus.
It will not be the only absence at PSG, which will not be able to count on the injured Neymar and Giorginio Wijnaldum, nor on Achraf Hakimi, Abdou Diallo and Idrissa Gueye, who are participating in the African Cup.
The two rivals had already met in the past at the Paris S. Germain stadium and the record is six wins and one loss for the local team. The last time these teams met in this tournament was in August 2021 and the match ended with a result of 0-2 for the locals.
Currently, both teams are separated in the standings by 26 points in favor of Paris S. Germain. Paris S. Germain is the current leader of Ligue 1 and has accumulated a total of 50 points in his locker so far. For their part, the visitors have 24 points and occupy the fourteenth position in the competition.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
PSG: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Colin Grow, marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Nuno Mendes; Marco Verratti, Other Herrera, Leandro Walls; Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Say Maria.
REIMS: Predrag Rajkovic; Andreaw Gravillon, Yunis Abdelhamid, Faes Road; Thomas Foket, Jens Cajuste, Dion Lopy, Bradley Locko; Kebbal, Mbuku; y Ekitike.
HOUR: 19:45 GMT (16:45 ARG-URU / 15:45 CHI-PAR-VEN-BOL / 14:45 COL-PER-ECU-MEX)
TV: ESPN
STADIUM: Princes Park
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