Paris Saint-Germain welcome Brest to the Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 on Saturday afternoon.
The dominant force in French football has regularly been accused of lacking the intangible resilience to win Europe’s premier club competition. However, Christophe Galtier was thrilled with the “character” his side showed in their Champions League victory over Juventus in midweek.
Here’s the Ligue 1 XI Galtier may deploy to carry that spirit into the top flight.
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma – “Staying calm is my strength,” the goalkeeping prodigy once said, discovering his superpower when he didn’t experience any nerves while making his professional debut aged just 16.
CB: Nordi Mukiele – To avoid burning out the 36-year-old Sergio Ramos – who has started seven of PSG’s eight games this season – Galtier may lean upon the versatile Frenchman.
CB: Marquinhos – Last season was the first time in nine campaigns with PSG that Marquinhos had started more than 30 league matches. The Brazilian is yet to miss a game this term.
CB: Presnel Kimpembe – In June, Kimpembe became the first-ever PSG academy product to captain France while still playing for the capital side.
RWB: Achraf Hakimi – During the victory over Juventus, Hakimi recorded his first Champions League assist since December 2020.
CM: Marco Verratti – PSG’s feisty metronome in midfield has completed more passes (511) than any other Ligue 1 player this season (per FBref).
CM: Renato Sanches – The 2016 Golden Boy rediscovered the best form of his career under Galtier at Lille. The 25-year-old has played more games (65) and scored more goals (six) under the Frenchman than any other coach in his career.
LWB: Juan Bernat – Injury has plagued the former Bayern Munich fullback across the last two years but Bernat is beginning to become a rotation option once again.
RW: Lionel Messi – When searching for a club that could afford the growth hormone treatment he required as a child, a video of Messi juggling various objects – and other more orthodox footage – was made to send to prospective clubs. He managed 113 keepie-uppies with an orange and 140 with a tennis ball.
ST: Kylian Mbappe – The Frenchman’s brace against Juventus took him to within one of Edinson Cavani’s tally of 30 Champions League goals for PSG – a club record.
LW: Neymar – No PSG player has made more pressures in the attacking third than the supposedly work-shy Brazilian this season (per FBref).
