Zlatan Ibrahimovic Absence Will Be No Problem for PSG vs. Monaco

Following Tuesday’s sensational 3-2 win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain get back to domestic business in their meeting with last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up AS Monaco on Sunday. The French champions are expected to be without star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic once again, with the Swede yet to feature again since developing a problem with his left heel last week.

No Zlatan should mean no problem for PSG now, though. After that Group F victory over Barcelona midweek, coach Laurent Blanc’s men have proved beyond doubt that they can survive without their talisman. The question is, how long will they need to?

Realistically, the 33-year-old will miss the Monaco clash at Parc des Princes because of Sweden’s important 2016 UEFA European Championship qualifier four days later. It is imperative for the Scandinavians that Ibrahimovic features in that crucial fixture in Solna, and les Parisiens have no real need to rush him back at the risk of another, longer injury lay-off.

Without their No. 10, PSG will likely take a similar approach to the one taken in the Barcelona encounter. Edinson Cavani will continue as the focal point of the capital outfit’s attack—despite a run of three matches in all competitions without a goal—and will likely be partnered by Lucas Moura, with Javier Pastore playing just behind them.

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The Brazilian left the field in the latter stages of PSG’s win over Barcelona after suffering from a cramp, so his involvement is unconfirmed by the club for now. Cavani and Pastore are pretty much certain to start, though.

All three functioned extremely well together in the French capital on Tuesday and contributed towards the French giants beating the Catalans at their own game at times. The trio combined magnificently to wear down a vulnerable Barca back line, and they also played their part in an impressive collective effort that saw them all muck in and help out in defence.

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While it might not take such a mammoth push to beat Monaco this weekend, Blanc will want to see the same sort of performance from his players. Le President had witnessed the three help lead PSG past Stade Malherbe Caen last Wednesday, but come Saturday in Toulouse that intensity was gone.

Monaco will pose a sterner test than Le Tefece, with Portuguese international Ricardo Carvalho at the heart of the back line and likely eager to prove that new Seleccao coach Fernando Santos was right to name him in his first squad to face France and Denmark in the upcoming international break.

Should Lucas not be fit enough to start, Blanc will not hesitate to hand another chance to academy graduate Jean-Christophe Bahebeck. The 21-year-old was PSG’s solitary positive to take from the dour draw against Toulouse and has earned the right to be given more regular chances after a goal and an assist in his past two matches.

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Although the dynamic between the Frenchman, Cavani and Pastore would be different to the one shared by the three starters against Barcelona, starting Bahebeck would not be such a bad thing. He has already shown that he can step up and contribute in Le Championnat when needed, and considering that Leonardo Jardim’s men may well take a defensive approach, the versatile attacking talent offers another direct threat.

Although PSG would no doubt be a more talented team with Ibrahimovic in it against Monaco, his continued absence on Sunday might be a blessing once again for Blanc’s men. If les Parisiens can replicate something close to their Barcelona performance, or at least display greater intensity and desire in the game, they could turn a corner in their domestic campaign.

With Marcelo Bielsa’s Olympique de Marseille looking unstoppable at the top of Ligue 1 at present, the defending champions need to get going sooner rather than later. Translating their ability to perform without Ibrahimovic from the European stage to the domestic would be a big step towards that.