Lionel Messi has been in sparkling form for club and country in recent weeks, making a habit of scoring vital goals. Paris Saint-Germain will be hoping for more magic from the Argentine against Stade de Reims on Saturday.
Stade de Reims – Paris Saint-Germain Saturday at 21:00 CET (1900 GMT)
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If Messi’s first season in Paris was underwhelming in terms of goals scored, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner appears determined to make up for that in this campaign. His magnificent strike against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday was just the latest example.
Messi has eight goals in 13 appearances this season, and has found the net with key goals in each of his club’s last four outings. The most recent example was that breathtaking hit that secured a 1-1 draw with Benfica in Lisbon, while last weekend his direct free-kick put the Parisians ahead at the Parc des Princes against OGC Nice in a game they went on to win 2-1.
Just before last month’s international break it was Messi who netted the equaliser as PSG came from behind to win 3-1 away to Maccabi Haifa in Israel, and the Argentine then struck the only goal in the 1-0 victory at Olympique Lyonnais. He then departed on international duty and scored braces in each of his country’s friendly wins over Honduras and Jamaica.
So will Messi keep up his current form at the Stade Auguste Delaune? Or will coach Christophe Galtier choose to give the 35-year-old a rest before a key return meeting with Benfica in Paris on Tuesday? Just like he did last weekend in leaving Kylian Mbappé on the bench at kick-off against Nice. Mbappé then came on and scored PSG’s late winner to join Neymar Jr on eight goals at the top of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats scoring charts.
Watch: PSG edge out Nice
Ekitiké to feature?
The man who replaced Mbappé in the line-up against Nice was Hugo Ekitiké, with the 20-year-old starting for the first time since joining PSG on loan in the close season for Reims, where he broke through in such remarkable fashion. However, it is Pablo Sarabia who has come on to replace Messi late in each of the last two matches.
“Leo was tired. He signalled to us before coming off, but he’s ok,” said Galtier of the decision to withdraw Messi against Benfica. The coach also admitted that left-back Nuno Mendes faces a spell on the sidelines, adding: “Nuno has a big muscular problem. He will be out for a few matches.”
That means Juan Bernat should start in Champagne country as PSG look to stay clear at the top of the table and maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign. Presnel Kimpembe is still on the sidelines with a hamstring injury while Renato Sanches missed the midweek game against his old club Benfica after having to come off against Nice not long after coming on as a substitute.
Ito suspended, Óscar García absent
PSG’s opponents ended last weekend in the bottom four, separated from safety because of goal difference, and having won just once all season. That was a 4-2 victory away at Angers SCO on the last day of August, since when they have drawn two and lost two of four outings.
Last weekend Reims drew 2-2 away at ESTAC Troyes in the Champagne country derby, twice throwing away a lead at the Stade de l’Aube. Folarin Bolagun netted his sixth goal since arriving on loan from Arsenal while Junya Ito was also on target, but the Japanese international and club record signing was later sent off. He will therefore miss two games, including this one, due to suspension as a result.
Watch: Reims held in derby
Reims can welcome back Dion Lopy and Zimbabwean international Marshall Munetsi after bans but Maxime Busi has a hamstring problem. Thomas Foket, Kaj Sierhuis and Rafik Guitane are out, while Swedish midfielder Jens Cajuste is set to be out “for three or four weeks” with a knee injury, according to assistant coach Will Still.
Still, the Belgian, will be filling in for coach Óscar García who is absent this weekend having returned to his native Spain due to family issues. Without their boss, Reims face a monumental challenge.
“We are all born competitors. We know how difficult this game will be but we have nothing to lose and we are ready to try to cause them some problems,” Still told reporters. “I think the Champions League game (against Benfica) can serve as an example. Of course they have so much quality but we can also hurt them in places. We also know that we will need to be at 110 or 120 percent of our ability. Our performance will need to be perfect.”
Probable teams
Reims: Diouf; Gravillon, Agbadou, Abdelhamid; Busi, Munestri, Lopy, Locko; Doumbia; Zeneli, Balogun
Paris Saint-Germain: Donnarumma; Ramos, Marquinhos, Danilo; Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Bernat; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar
