PSG predicted lineup vs Lorient - Ligue 1
- Potential for four PSG debutants against Lorient
- Kylian Mbappe and Neymar not expected to play
- Big opportunity for Hugo Ekitike and Lee Kang-in
By Euan Burns
PSG are going to get their Ligue 1 campaign underway on Saturday night with a home game against Lorient, but it is the players off of the pitch that the world's media will be most focused on.
The futures of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are up in the air, with both attackers trying to force an exit from the club. Given the situation, Luis Enrique is not expected to use either of them in the season opener, choosing to give minutes to players that are new to the club or trying to bag a consistent place in the team.
With that in mind, here is the team Enrique could choose to get his tenure at PSG underway.
PSG predicted lineup vs Lorient (4-3-2-1)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma - The Italian goalkeeper was unfortunate enough to be the victim of a robbery at his home during the summer but he will back in action against Lorient.
RB: Achraf Hakimi - One of the first names on the team sheet regardless of which manager arrives at PSG, Hakimi will continue to impress at right-back.
CB: Marquinhos - Marquinhos is one of the leaders in the PSG squad and his importance has grown year on year. With some very big names now absent, he is even higher up the pecking order and has a lot of responsibility.
CB: Presnel Kimpembe - Another player whose importance at the club has grown year on year, he will now be facing some stiff competition from Milan Skriniar who has arrived on a free transfer.
LB: Lucas Hernandez - A debutant, Lucas Hernandez has made the move from Bayern Munich and he has a great chance to make the left-back spot his own.
CM: Carlos Soler - The Spaniard did well to carve out a role for himself last season at PSG when many assumed he would just be a rotational option, and Enrique is likely to use him a lot.
CM: Manuel Ugarte - There were a number of clubs that Ugarte could have joined from Sporting CP, but he opted for PSG and Enrique is expected to get the most out of him straight away.
CM: Marco Verratti - There is still a very good chance that Verratti will leave PSG this summer so the Italian could be trying to impress for his own reasons.
AM: Marco Asensio - This is very much a new adventure for Marco Asensio who finally has a chance to prove himself away from Real Madrid, where he could never consistently make the grade.
AM: Hugo Ekitike - One of the potential beneficiaries of all the headline attackers leaving, Ekitike wanted more minutes last season and he now has a chance to impress.
ST: Lee Kang-in - The fourth debutant in this line-up, Lee Kang-in is in the same situation as Ekitike where he may get a lot more minutes early on than expected. He needs to impress before Goncalo Ramos gets fit.
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