Why Lucas Moura Is PSG's Most Improved Player in 2015/16

In the season opener against Lille, Lucas Moura was only named in the Paris Saint-Germain starting XI due to a lack of options. However, in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 battle, the Brazilian winger was there on his own merit.

Before the match at the Parc des Princes, Lucas had only started one previous game in the competition—but his goal and assist secured the away victory over Shakhtar Donetsk and showed what he could do at that level.

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A few weeks ago, there may have been a different name picked out as PSG’s most improved player, but Serge Aurier’s Periscope performance has ruined all his good work. The right-back started 19 games this season, and it’s not just his two goals and two assists that caught the eye, but his marauding runs, strong defensive displays and all-round energy and drive have been the perfect complement to Blanc’s side.

Adrien Rabiot stepped up his game when Marco Verratti was injured. His performance against Real Madrid was a real eye-opener, but he still hasn’t had the type of impact that has made a real difference to the team. There is so much promise and potential in his play this season—but the best is yet to come.

One player who is starting to grow into his role in the PSG squad is Benjamin Stambouli. The fans at the Parc des Princes are no longer booing the former Montpellier man; that has to be the most telling indicator of his improvements.

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The other potential candidate has to be this season’s main man, Angel Di Maria. Nine goals and 10 assists in Ligue 1, an impact in the UEFA Champions League and influence in the cups—Manchester seems a very long time ago. Form is temporary, and class is permanent, so perhaps you can’t improve if the quality that was missing at Old Trafford was just a blip.

Lucas enjoyed his best spell just before the winter break. Goals against Lyon and Angers in the league, plus the Coupe de la Ligue winner against OL, put him back into the spotlight and forced Blanc into giving the Brazilian the minutes he deserves.

While Lucas has been on the way up, Cavani has been on the way down.

Speaking at a news conference at the start of December, Blanc said (via ESPN FC):

"

All the players want to play—that's normal and logical.

We all want to play but when you're on the pitch, I can tell you, you have to be good. It happens that you can mess up a match—we know that too.

But if you look at Lucas' stats, he's played a lot of matches. You [the media] say he's not playing but I can tell you that he's played a lot of matches from the start.

He's a guy who we need to help and we will help him like I do with everyone. But we also have to face up to reality too. That's our role as well.

"

As Lucas Moura’s performances were on the way up, Edinson Cavani’s form dipped at the right time and helped Blanc make the decision to bench the Uruguayan. In the first leg against Chelsea, the 23-year-old looked much more direct and offered PSG a dangerous option on the wing.

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His movement, skill on the ball and ability to time a back-post run makes him a constant threat. The second leg will give the Brazilian another chance to prove his worth. If he wants to cement his place as a genuine starter before PSG dip into the transfer window, Lucas needs to show them what they would be missing before the end of the season.