PSG travels to Dortmund this Wednesday evening (9 p.m.) in the Champions League semi-final first leg. And for this summit match, few Parisian players will be absent. On the BvB side, there will be at least two notable absences.
Resting on Sunday, PSG players returned to training this Monday with the French champion title in their pocket after Monaco’s defeat in Lyon this weekend. And just two days before Dortmund/PSG, in the Champions League semi-final first leg, we already know who some of the Parisian side will be absent. As against Le Havre last Saturday (3-3), two long-time absentees will be missing, plus the usual Champions League special.
Only three absent from PSG, but only those with little impact
As always in the Champions League, Layvin Kuzawa will not be there since he has never been included on the lists since the start of the season. There is obviously Presnel Kimpembe, who is still in the recovery phase after his new Achilles tendon operation at the start of the year. Even if he recently touched the ball, the 2018 world champion is still too tight and should not make his return before next summer.
The other Parisian absentee will be Sergio Rico. Victim of a serious horse riding accident last May, the Spanish goalkeeper passed tests last week with a view to a possible return to the squad, but he is not yet available and is not included in any case not on PSG’s UEFA list, unlike Kimpembe in fact.
With the exception of these two players, everyone seems available for Dortmund/PSG since no Parisian is injured or suspended. Limping off the field against Lorient last week and left to rest against Le Havre on Saturday, Nuno Mendes has recovered well according to RMC Sport and should be lined up against Dortmund.
Haller back in Dortmund training, but…
No suspensions on the German side either, but at least two absent. Algerian defender Ramy Bensebaini was injured with Fennecs last March and has still not recovered. Hero of a CAN that he played injured, Sébastien Haller scored a valuable goal against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on April 10.
But the former Auxerre player injured his ankle again three days later against Borussia Mönchengladbach. While his end of the season seemed compromised, the Franco-Ivorian center forward of BvB made a surprise return to training this Monday, but according to the German press, he will however be too tight to challenge PSG in two days.
BVB doubters present on D-2
Beaten 4-1 by Leipzig last Saturday, Borussia Dortmund also has several uncertain players two days before their match against the Parisians, but the news from Germany is rather reassuring for the Marsupials. Having had the flu and was spared last weekend, Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer indeed trained this Monday and should be able to hold his place against PSG.
Hit in the shin last Saturday, experienced central defender Mats Hummels was also present at training this Monday, just like the Dutch Donyell Malen (attacker) and Ian Maatsen (left side), who completed the entire session according to the local daily Ruhr Nachrichen.
Malen has been suffering from thigh problems since the international break and has little chance of starting on Wednesday, although he should therefore be able to be in the squad. Suffering from muscle problems since the match against Leverkusen on April 21, Maatsen was suspended last Saturday against Leipzig and is applying for a starting place against PSG.
