Bruges (Belgium) (AFP)
Succeed the pass of three, again without his superstar Neymar: the PSG goes Tuesday (21:00 / 19:00 GMT) in Bruges, his amazing runner-up in Group A, to pursue a faultless Champions League and open more the way towards the round of 16.
From the burning banks of the Bosphorus to the famous canals of the Venice of the North, the tortuous route for qualifying in the second round now passes through Belgium. And for the moment everything is going on like a long calm river.
With 6 points, the PSG not only prone alone at the top of his group, but he has already relegated to five lengths Real Madrid, his great rival for first place.
Better, after his brilliant inaugural victory against Real (3-0), then the difficult success acquired on the hostile field of Galatasaray (1-0), there are only a few points to go to clinch to validate his ticket for the next round .
Without Neymar, absent around "four weeks" because of a muscular injury, the Parisian club has become accustomed to shine on the European scene, thanks in particular to a dazzling Angel Di Maria.
Without Idrissa Gueye, major craftsman of the excellent start in C1, however, Thomas Tuchel will have to find other solutions to remain sovereign in the middle against Club Brugge.
- Mbappé from the outset? -
Only good news for the Parisian coach, returns in the group of Kylian Mbappé and Edinson Cavani, however, slow to return to the eleven holder because of a long recovery.
Present at Nice Friday (4-1 win), Cavani remained on the bench unlike Mbappé, author of a remarkable entry late in the game with a goal to the key.
Four days later, can they be started from the outset in Belgium? "I can not say now, it's difficult," said Thomas Tuchel, cautious after the league game.
"I would like to play every game with Kylian and + Edi +, both of us have missed long weeks, but we have to balance the minutes with them," he added on Friday.
If the trend seems negative for Cavani, still a bit short, Mbappé seems to have regained all its feelings after persistent discomfort in the thigh. Suspense ...
In case the two members of the "MCN" start on the bench, Tuchel will be able to rely on his two Argentinians Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi, authors of three of the four Paris goals scored in C1.
- Miller, back home -
Irresistible since the beginning of the season, Di Maria continues the doubles and the class actions as if he lived, at 31 years, the best form of his career in the absence of the Mbappé-Cavani-Neymar trio.
Brilliant against Madrid and Galatasaray, the Parisian angel has scored in Nice his 6th and 7th goals of the season, including a lob made in full breath-taking race!
"He is a world-class player," said fellow teammate Leandro Paredes on Friday, "technically it's perfect."
"He does not surprise me because I can see him every day in training, his coach added, he can do incredible things if he is quiet, he is completely confident right now."
In addition to Icardi's flair, Tuchel will be able to rely on Thomas Meunier, the former Brugge (2011-2016), for information on the opponent.
"They will play the title in Belgium this season, it will be necessary to be careful, warned the Belgian international, Friday.This is not a game won in advance, it will be necessary to pay attention.And their 12th man (the public) will be very important. "
The champion of Belgium is not undervalued. During the previous day, the teammates of the striker Emmanuel Dennis had led 2-0 to Santiago Bernabeu before seeing the Real snatch the draw late in the game! The PSG is warned.
© 2019 AFP