PSG received 7 out of 7? Author of a perfect start to the season in Ligue 1, despite performances not always mastered, with six successes in as many games, the club of the capital will try to continue its momentum, this Wednesday, in Metz during the 7th day . But it will be without Lionel Messi, injured in the left knee.
The absence of the Argentinian for this trip to Lorraine put an end to the episode of his exit against Lyon (2-1), which caused so much talk. While the six-fold Golden Ball suffered a blow during the meeting, Mauricio Pochettino did not want to take the slightest risk. “After a strike, we saw that he was touching his knee, he felt that it was pulling behind,” explained the Argentine coach, who had decided to replace him fifteen minutes from the end. And the MRI performed by the former Barcelona player confirmed “signs of bone contusion”, recording his package to face the Messins.
But even without him, Marquinhos’ teammates should have no trouble getting rid of a Metz red lantern team and looking for their first victory of the season (3 draws, 3 losses). And they can always count on Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Angel Di Maria or Mauro Icardi to undermine the worst defense of the championship (13 goals conceded tied with Bordeaux).
For the Parisians, this meeting is also an opportunity to continue their rise in power and improve their offensive animation, still in progress, one week away from finding Manchester City in the Champions League. While keeping the competition at bay. Because behind, OM begins to dream of repeating the feat of Lille last season.
Marseille, serious rival of Paris
Five points from Paris, with one game less, before moving to Angers without Dimitri Payet (injured), Marseille offers an attractive game under the orders of Jorge Sampaoli and asserts itself, for the moment, as the most rival serious for the capital club. It remains to be seen how this team will cash in on the sequence of meetings. The trip to Angevin land, for a 4e match in ten days, could provide a first element of answer.
In the other meetings, Lens also hopes to confirm its excellent start to the year and keep its place on the podium when Strasbourg comes, while Lyon will try to regain success against Troyes, while Monaco will play big at home. against Saint-Etienne also in bad shape, like Lille which receives Reims. For Bordeaux and Nantes, it will be a question of going to Montpellier and facing Brest.