AUGUST, 7, Sporting Alert – Paris Saint Germain starts the defense of their Ligue 1 title against Lille on Friday without star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Angel Di Maria will not feature either.
Ibrahimovic, who left the game during the first half of PSG’s 2-0 win over Lyon last Saturday in the French Super Cup, remains sidelined with what the team is reporting as a right knee injury.
A club statement said: “Examinations this week confirmed [it was] a strain of the internal medial ligament of the right knee.”
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With Ibrahimovic out, the focus of the attack will be on Edinson Cavani, who will lead the forward line.
The Uruguay international had a brief preseason with the French champions because of international duties with the national team at the Copa America tournament, but he has the quality to come up big even without being at full fitness.
Supporting Cavani tonight against Lille will be Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore, with Ezequiel Lavezzi starting on the bench.
Captain Thiago Silva leads a strong backline that also includes centre half partner David Luiz, as well as Maxwell and Serge Aurier.
Getting the nod in midfield for this game are Marco Verratti, Adrien Rabiot and Blaise Matuidi.
Marquinhos, Thiago Motta and Gregory van der Wiel all start on the bench, while Kevin Trapp starts in goal with Salvatore Sirigu on the bench.
Meanwhile, for Lille, Djibril Sidibe, Florent Balmont, Sofiane Boufal and Sehrou Guirassy all start for the home side, which will be hoping to shock the champions and start the season on a winning note at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Team News
Lille: Vincent Enyeama, Benjamin Pavard, Renato Civelli, Ibrahim Amadou, Djibril Sidibe, Florent Balmont, Rio Mavuba, Sebastien Corchia, Sofiane Boufal, Eric Bautheac, Sehrou Guirassy. Subs: Mounir Obbadi, Steeve Elana, Soualiho Meite, Ryan Mendes, Ronny Rodelin, Junior Tallo, Youssouf Kone
PSG: Kevin Trapp, Serge Aurier, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Maxwell, Marco Verratti, Adrien Rabiot, Blaise Matuidi, Lucas Moura, Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore
Subs: Benjamin Stambouli, Marquinhos, Thiago Motta, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gregory van der Wiel, Jean-Kevin Augustin, Salvatore Sirigu
