Paris Saint-Germain predicted lineup vs Nice

Paris Saint-Germain welcome Nice to the capital in Ligue 1 on Saturday evening as Christophe Galtier faces his former employers.

The 56-year-old only spent one season in charge of Nice but went head-to-head with PSG three times last term, avoiding defeat home and away in the league as well as guiding Les Aiglons into the Coupe de France quarter-finals via penalties at the Parc des Princes.

Here’s the PSG XI Galtier may deploy to get one over his old club.

GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma – Just like his international and club teammate Marco Verratti, Donnarumma is the son of a carpenter.

CB: Sergio Ramos – Inspired by the goals and the hair of Argentinian icon Claudio Canniggia, Ramos was in awe of the “Son of the Wind” growing up.

CB: Marquinhos – Sitting at the base of PSG’s backline, Marquinhos has overseen four consecutive Ligue 1 clean sheets, his longest bout of parsimony since a run of five to close out 2020.

CB: Danilo Pereira – With Presnel Kimpembe still nursing a nagging injury concern, the burly Portugal international may continue to fill in.

RWB: Achraf Hakimi – The Spain-born Morocco international has forged a strong relationship with his former Real Madrid teammate Ramos on and off the pitch in Paris. “We talk a lot,” Hakimi said, “he helps me with everything and gives me a lot of advice.”

CM: Fabian Ruiz – The former Napoli midfielder spent 25 days of pre-season training on his own before the move to Paris finally went through this summer.

CM: Vitinha – In the absence of the suspended Verratti, Vitinha may make his first start in PSG’s midfield without the experienced Italian alongside him.

LWB: Nuno Mendes – The 20-year-old has never lost a league match at home in his senior career with either Sporting CP or PSG (W29 D8).

RW: Pablo Sarabia – After a jet-setting international break, Galtier may offer Lionel Messi his first spot on PSG’s bench this season, turning to the solid, if not spectacular, Sarabia.

ST: Kylian Mbappe – The Frenchman enjoyed an eventful international break, scoring a stunning slalom goal against Denmark and inciting the fury of the vice-president of KFC France.

LW: Neymar – Europe’s most in-form forward is averaging a goal or assist every 41 minutes in Ligue 1 this season.