Jean-Christophe Bahebeck Is Ideal PSG Replacment for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cavani

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc was unable to indulge in much celebration of a barely deserved 1-0 UEFA Champions League Group F win away at APOEL FC on Tuesday. Not only were the French champions extremely fortuitous to come away from Nicosia with all three points, but Le President now faces a dilemma ahead of Saturday’s crunch Ligue 1 clash with Girondins de Bordeaux.

PSG currently sit second in Le Championnat, seven points behind early-season leaders and bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille, but will have to face third-placed Bordeaux without either Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Edinson Cavani. The Swede does not yet have a set date for his potential return from a left-heel problem, while the Uruguayan—the scorer of Les Parisiens’ match-winning goal in Cyprus—is suspended following his red card in the 3-1 win over RC Lens last week.

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Having already struggled enough in attack since the start of the season when Ibrahimovic has not been available, his strike partner and replacement Cavani is now out of action—temporarily at least—leaving Blanc with few options going forward ahead of the Bordeaux visit. Willy Sagnol’s side are far from impregnable at the back, but Ibrahimovic and Cavani’s absences make three important points difficult to obtain.

Blanc's solution to the problem could be talented youth-academy graduate Jean-Christophe Bahebeck.

The 21-year-old spent the past two seasons on loan with teams that went on to get relegated—ESTAC Troyes and Valenciennes—but he has impressed since returning to the capital. After a prolific pre-season, Bahebeck was handed a new contract and a new squad number denoting his status as a part of Blanc’s squad.

Despite that positive progress made over the summer, the French under-21 international has had to be patient this season and waited until the seventh match of the Ligue 1 season—a 2-0 away win at Stade Malherbe Caen—to be handed more than a 20-minute role. Brought on to replace the injured Lavezzi after just 12 minutes, Bahebeck went on to set up PSG’s second goal of the night by taking the corner that provided Marquinhos’ headed second.

Since then, the homegrown talent has not looked back.

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In the fixture following Caen—a 1-1 draw away at Toulouse—Bahebeck started as one of the front pair, alongside Cavani, scoring the equaliser for Blanc’s men. In the match after that, he came off the bench to set up the easiest of goals for Lucas Moura in a 1-1 home draw against AS Monaco.

Although these last two results were disappointing for PSG, Bahebeck’s performances were one of the few positives to come from either display. The Parisien No. 15 has proved that he can contribute when needed for the team and is capable of playing anywhere in the attacking third.

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Bordeaux could be the match for Blanc to give Bahebeck a rare chance to start and show what he can do by steering the ailing French champions to an important victory over an early-season rival.

It would also be a fine reward for Bahebeck’s good form when called upon and would show a few of the current PSG youth-teamers that there will still be chances for youth-academy graduates, despite the presence of a galaxy of star footballers.

While Lavezzi could be back in the squad following his recent injury, it makes little sense starting him with Bahebeck in better shape and better form. Lucas and Javier Pastore have done well in the absence of Ibrahimovic, but adding Bahebeck in Cavani’s place could make the PSG attack more purposeful.

Should Blanc elect to give the youngster a start against his former club side Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, he could be richly rewarded for putting his faith in him.