Predicted XI

Neymar to start - How will PSG line up against Lille?

Neymar is fit again for Paris Saint-Germain in their top-of-the-table encounter against Lille - but plenty will not for the hosts.

4:04pm on Friday 2nd April 2021
By Robin Bairner

Paris Saint-Germain go into a vital spell of their season, with a Champions League date against Bayern Munich following on from Saturday’s first-versus-second clash in Ligue 1 in which they face Lille.

The sides are locked together on points, but PSG remain favourites for the title due to their experience and strength in depth.

That squad depth is set to be tested in Saturday’s match, in which they will be without a raft of players.

Marco Verratti, Danilo Pereira and Alessandro Florenzi all returned from international duty nursing knocks – Verratti may not even make Bayern – while Mauro Icardi, Layvin Kurzawa and Ander Herrera are expected to miss out too.

Florenzi is expected to be fit to start against Lille, however.

Meanwhile, this is set to be Neymar’s first start since injury, while Kylian Mbappe returns after a busy international period with France.

The Brazilian will certainly get plenty of game time in a bid to raise his sharpness, but Mbappe will have to be more carefully managed in this encounter.

PSG were boosted by the fact that their South Americans did not have international duty, so the likes of Marquinhos and Angel Di Maria should be fresh for this encounter.

Leandro Paredes, who is suspended against Bayern in midweek, can expect to have a big role to play, probably beside Idrissa Gueye in the centre of the park.