Metz vs. Paris Saint-Germain: How PSG Should Line Up in Ligue 1 Game

Paris Saint-Germain are away at FC Metz on Friday and have a chance to go top of Ligue 1, at least temporarily, with a victory at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.

Bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille are currently one point clear at Le Championnat’s summit after a 2-0 loss in the French capital before the recent international break, but Laurent Blanc’s men can finally leapfrog them with a win.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is included in the squad that was revealed by PSG.fr (in French) and is expected to feature, despite leaving the Swedish national team early because of a hip problem picked up in the 1-1 draw away to Montenegro, per Ligue1.com. 

PSG will be without six first team players in Metz though. David Luiz is out with a virus, while Lucas Moura, Marco Verratti, Jean-Christophe Bahebeck and Nicolas Douchez are all injured. Serge Aurier also misses out as he only returned from international duty late on Thursday.

Because of those absences, Blanc’s job even more difficult than it already is to mobilise his players for immediate action after the internationals.

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0 - In the top flights of Germany, England, Spain, Italy & France only Chelsea (9W, 2D), Bayern (8W, 3D) and PSG (7W, 6D) are unbeaten. Top.

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) November 20, 2014"

Despite the large number of players recently on international duty, Le President was still able to direct training sessions featuring a number of first-team stars over the past fortnight.

The likes of Maxwell, Thiago Motta and Ezequiel Lavezzi were all left behind in Paris, and Blanc should be able to deploy his team in his preferred 4-3-3 formation in north-eastern France.

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3 - PSG are winless in their last three away league games at Metz (D1 L2). Challenge.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 21, 2014"

As PSG chase a first win in 11 years at the Stade Saint-Symphorien in Friday’s clash against Metz, this is how the capital club should line up. 

Goalkeeper

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Barring a late injury or illness, Salvatore Sirigu will be lining up between the sticks for PSG after featuring for 73 minutes of Italy’s 1-0 friendly win over Albania in Genoa on Tuesday.

The Azzurri star will have enjoyed some rest while away with the national team and can look forward to the run of games prior to the winter break after finding himself in the unfamiliar position of being a substitute. 

Defence

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

With Serge Aurier only arriving back in France on Thursday after helping the Ivory Coast to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this week, Gregory van der Wiel will start at right-back. 

The Dutchman featured in the Netherlands’ 6-0 thrashing of Lithuania on Sunday, but received treatment upon his return to Paris a few days ago.

Thiago Silva and Marquinhos will partner up in central defence after Luiz was omitted from the squad with a virus following international duty with Brazil against Turkey and Austria.

The Brazilian pair will also be joined by compatriot and left-back Maxwell, who has been resting in the French capital for the duration of the international break.

Midfield

Michel Euler/Associated Press

The midfield will give Blanc the biggest headache.

Verratti has been ruled out and Blaise Matuidi's recent operation on broken bones in his hand make his involvement from the start unlikely, meaning two roles will probably need to be filled.

Thiago Motta returns from suspension and will almost certainly reprise his deep-lying role, while Yohan Cabaye and Adrien Rabiot should also come in, judging by Blanc's pre-match press conference comments on PSG.fr.

There is a chance that Matuidi is ultimately passed fit to play, but if he is not, Cabaye will occupy the right side of the midfield three with Rabiot on the left.

If the 19-year-old does start, it would be his first full appearance since May.

Javier Pastore is a possible alternative in the midfield three, but Edinson Cavani’s involvement with the Uruguayan national team could force Blanc to deploy the Argentine in the front three instead.

If Cavani starts, Pastore will probably play alongside Motta and Cabaye, but El Matador only returned to France on Thursday and could very well start on the bench. Had Bahebeck not been ruled out, Cavani may well have been rested along with Aurier after their recent travels.

Attack

Risto Bozovic/Associated Press

The big news is that it looks as if Ibrahimovic will be fit to start for PSG for the first time since September.

Assuming that he starts in Metz, the Swede will most likely be deployed in the middle of a front three.

If Cavani is on the bench to begin with, after his late return from international duty, it will be the Argentine pair of Pastore and Lavezzi either side of the PSG No. 10.

However, should the Uruguayan start, it is possible that El Flaco could get the nod ahead of Lavezzi in order to enable Blanc to try Ibrahimovic and Cavani together at the top of a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Bahebeck's absence through injury deprives Blanc of a useful alternative out wide and a player that could have given Le President more of a direct threat than the likes of Pastore.

Probable Starting XI

Jonathan Johnson (B/R)

PSG's probable starting XI vs. Metz

Goalkeeper: Salvatore Sirigu.

Right-back: Gregory van der Wiel.

Central defenders: Thiago Silva (captain) and Marquinhos.

Left-back: Maxwell.

Defensive midfield: Thiago Motta.

Central midfield: Yohan Cabaye and Adrien Rabiot.

Right wing: Javier Pastore.

Striker: Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Left wing: Ezequiel Lavezzi.