Paris (AFP)

After their feat against Bayern Munich (3-2), Paris SG went to Strasbourg on Saturday (5:00 p.m.), for a Ligue 1 break as decisive in the title race as it was perilous for a team that was struggling to continue.

Kylian Mbappé may well have managed a double on the field of the reigning European champion, Wednesday, after the meeting, the striker was already thinking of the 13th of the French Championship.

"The return match against Munich (Tuesday)? To begin with, you have to play well in Strasbourg so as not to get into the hole," said the world champion at the microphone of RMC Sport.

This season shaken by the pandemic has taught him to keep a cool head in all circumstances, even when his team has just defeated Bayern in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League.

Because for Paris, the next match is very dangerous.

He lost the last three meetings (Lyon, Monaco, Nantes) which followed a European meeting (Basaksehir, Barcelona twice).

Today, PSG drags these setbacks like a ball, in an ultra-tight title race with Lille, Monaco and Lyon, where every point is worth a lot.

In the camera of Meinau, for the 32nd day of L1, it is first for the Parisians to win to keep in view a title that moved away last weekend by losing against Losc (1 -0).

- "The freshest team" -

Then come the concerns related to the return match against Munich, a new turning point that should propel them to the semifinals of C1.

"It will be necessary to recover as much energy as possible, but also to analyze the case of each player individually. The match against Strasbourg will be very difficult and very important," said Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine coach faces a puzzle, to keep a competitive training while sparing his most used frames.

In attack, the absence of Neymar, who is serving the first of his two suspension matches on Saturday, shifts all the attention to Mbappé.

However the French, mobilized with the selection at the end of March, has chained a lot lately.

"Poche" could be tempted to align Moise Kean, replacing in Bavaria, or even winger Pablo Sarabia, who had a good period in similar matches (Bordeaux, Brest).

"Strasbourg is a very physical team, we must be very careful in the analysis in order to put the freshest team without running any risks", warns Pochettino, suggesting that he could spare some executives.

"Players are making a huge effort, especially those who have played for the national team," he adds.

- Marquinhos package -

"The medical and performance staff are also doing an enormous job of recovery," said the Argentinian technician, considering that he "needed the eleven holder tomorrow to give all the guarantees on the physical level".

Defense represents another question mark.

Marquinhos felt an adductor pain against Munich which forced him out after thirty minutes.

He will not be in Alsace.

His potential replacement in the central hinge, Abdou Diallo, ill during the meeting, also forfeited.

Hard to navigate ... especially since in the middle, Marco Verratti (Covid-19), remains in isolation, like his Italian compatriot Alessandro Florenzi, also infected, for this meeting against an opponent who seeks to validate its maintenance.

"A victory, or four points, it will be the maintenance," said goalkeeper Matz Sels on Sunday, after a success in Bordeaux (3-2) where his team led 3-0 after the first half hour.

Although deprived of the public boiling of Meinau, the Alsatians have proven that they can sublimate themselves against the big guys, by beating Monaco (1-0) in early March, which was until then undefeated in 2021.

Paris has been warned: this is not the time to relax.

© 2021 AFP