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PSG Faces Metz With Growing Injury List Amid Champions League Prioritization
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- PSG Faces Metz With Growing Injury List Amid Champions League Prioritization
(REUTERS)
Two days before the PSG vs. Metz match, which counts for the 23rd round of Ligue 1, 6 players are already absent, but there will likely be more to miss in this match, scheduled between the two Champions League playoff matches against Monaco .
The reigning European champion against the Ligue 1 bottom-dweller. This Saturday night, at the Parc des Princes, the PSG vs. Metz match appears very unbalanced on paper, but it is not time for relaxation or overconfidence, especially since PSG might be four points behind Lens at kickoff of its match against Metz if the Blood and Gold were to win Saturday against Monaco , a match that will begin at 5 p.m.
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Scheduled between the two Champions League playoff matches against Monaco, this Ligue 1 match against Metz will normally be an opportunity for Luis Enrique to make a broad rotation and rest key players. Lucas Chevalier , Dro Fernandez, Ilya Zabarnyi, or Lee Kang-in could thus start this match against the Ligue 1 last-place team, which hasn't won in the league since Nov. 9 last year.
On PSG's side, two players are certain to miss this match. They are Quentin Ndjantou , who was recently operated on for a thigh issue and is out for several months, and Ousmane Dembele , who left prematurely against Monaco Tuesday night due to a knock to his left calf. While the latest news was rather reassuring, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner should be absent at least 10 days, in the best-case scenario, and it is already agreed that no risk will be taken against Metz this Saturday.
Absent since Jan. 20 last and his knee knock received against Sporting CP, Fabian Ruiz is uncertain for the reception of Metz, as is Senny Mayulu , who felt calf discomfort last week and hasn't played against Rennes or Monaco. Also to monitor the health status of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia , who returned quickly from his ankle sprain contracted against Newcastle and whom the staff asked several times Tuesday night against Monaco if he was okay before his replacement in the 69th minute.
PSG was resting this Thursday, and we will know more this Friday about the health status of the Parisian troops with the traditional pre-match medical update, which generally precedes Luis Enrique's pre-match press conference, scheduled for this Friday at 1 p.m.
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On the Metz side, new coach Benoit Tavenot was himself in a press conference this Thursday, two days before the match, and gave a complete update on the status of his squad. Experienced central defender Jean-Philippe Gbamin returns from suspension, while midfielder Jessy Deminguet , who left at halftime against Auxerre last Sunday, did not train Tuesday, but has since resumed training.
Due to a knock to the ankle and a swollen ankle, offensive midfielder Gauthier Hein did not train on Tuesday or Wednesday, but was supposed to do so this Thursday. He is nevertheless to be considered uncertain for Saturday. Defensive midfielder Boubacar Traore has resumed after his ankle injury and should be available.
Already ruled out on the Metz side are four players, starting with former PSG defensive midfielder Benjamin Stambouli , who still suffers from a fractured rib. Injured since last summer in the knee, striker Joseph Mangondo is also unavailable, while goalkeeper Pape Sy and midfielder Ismael Guerti are in the recovery phase, but still too short.
Absentees for PSG vs. Metz two days before the match:
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Injured (6): Ndjantou, Dembele, Stambouli, Mangondo, Guerti, Sy.
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Uncertain (4): Ruiz, Mayulu, Kvaratskhelia, Hein.
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