Apoel Nicosia vs. PSG: Key Issues That Will Shape Champions League Game

Paris Saint-Germain travel to Cyprus on Tuesday for the first of two Champions League games against Apoel Nicosia—games that will help decide the outcome of Group F.

Laurent Blanc will be happy with his side’s start to the European campaign. Winning a point away at Ajax, they then jumped to the top of the group with a fantastic three points against Barcelona.

Their opponents this week only have one point from their first two games and will hope to give their home fans something to cheer. A single point would keep alive their chances of finishing in third place.

Apoel have started well, only losing to Barcelona by a single goal at the Nou Camp, and then winning a point at home to Ajax. With PSG far from their best and still suffering from multiple injury problems, Greek coach Giorgos Donis will be hoping for another strong performance on Tuesday.

Here are the key issues that will shape the Champions League game between Apoel Nicosia and Paris Saint-Germain. 

Risking Thiago Silva

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It was expected that Brazilian defender Thiago Silva would return to action on Friday against RC Lens, but the club captain wasn’t named as part of the matchday squad, with PSG only naming six players on the bench.

Silva hasn’t played since the friendly against Napoli—just days after the opening game of the season—due to a hamstring injury. This week, he has once again been named in the travelling squad, and it will be interesting to see if he is fit enough to start for the away side.

Zoumana Camara was the only fit centre-back for Friday’s league game. He was partnered by midfielder Thiago Motta.

Motta is also in the squad despite a slight knock, as is David Luiz, with Marquinhos still out injured.

If Silva was not fit enough to even sit on the bench on Friday, it would be a risk to play him from the start on Tuesday.

It would be ideal to give the Brazilian some minutes off the bench, but Blanc will not want to risk him too soon. 

Pressure on Edinson Cavani to Perform

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After receiving two yellow cards against RC Lens on Friday, Edinson Cavani will miss next week’s game at the Parc des Princes against Bordeaux, a game from which PSG desperately need to take all three points.

As a result, they could be without both Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the vital league game. The Swedish striker will once again miss out on Tuesday, leaving Cavani as PSG’s main goal threat against the Cypriot side.

Knowing he will miss the next league game, Cavani will be expected to give his all to fire PSG to victory over Apoel. Nothing but the absolute best will be accepted.

Cavani’s penalty against Lens ended a run of four games without a goal, and the striker will have been happy to end the drought. In any case, agree with it or not, the red card is another blow to his season and the only thing that will make the situation better is a stunning performance from the Uruguayan striker. 

Battle of the Injured Midfields

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Injury problems are plaguing PSG in defence, attack and midfield. No one has been officially ruled out of Blanc’s engine room, but there is a chance that Thiago Motta may have to play in defence, while Blaise Matuidi had to come off against Lens.

That leaves Yohan Cabaye, Marco Verratti and perhaps Clement Chantome to play in the three midfield positions for PSG.

While there is no doubt they are good enough to do the job, it wouldn’t be ideal to play all three in a Champions League away game.

Unfortunately for Apoel, they may not have the personnel to take advantage of PSG not being at 100 percent. The Cypriot side are without Stathis Aloneftis for Tuesday’s game. Meanwhile, the trio of Vinicius, Gustavo Manduca and Nuno Morais are all doubtful.

If Apoel want to get anything from this game, they need to try to control the midfield battle. However, without some of their key players against a side like PSG, it won’t be easy.

Verratti will be key for the French side. The young Italian has been excellent this season.

Potentially without Motta, he will have the space and time to blossom further. He is slowly becoming one of PSG’s most important players. If Matuidi and Motta can’t take their place in the midfield, it will give Verratti more responsibility, and that is something he should thrive on.