With less than a week to go before their Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich, all Paris Saint-Germain fans are holding their breath, asking themselves the same question: will Nuno Mendes and Vitinha be fit to play?
A question to which L’Équipe has been able to provide a partial answer, on the eve of the Parisians’ trip to face SCO Angers. Having picked up an injury at Anfield during the second leg of the quarter-final of Europe’s premier club competition, Mendes resumed full training three days ago and should be fit to feature against the newly crowned German champions.
Concerning Vitinha, who was substituted due to injury shortly before half-time in PSG’s 2-1 defeat to Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday evening, the situation remains uncertain. Having suffered an ankle injury, the Portuguese player has yet to test his fitness. In any case, no risks will be taken this weekend and it would be surprising to see the midfielder feature in Ligue 1 this Saturday.
Lucas Beraldo as Plan B, Fabián Ruiz regains his rhythm
Having started up front in defence for PSG’s last two matches, Lucas Beraldo could well be seen by Enrique as a viable option – or at the very least a necessary one – should Vitinha be ruled out on Tuesday.
Fabián Ruiz, finally back after a three-month absence due to a knee injury, has begun to find his rhythm, playing twenty, then thirty minutes in the matches against OL and Nantes. Should we expect him to start against Bayern Munich? It’s hard to say, given that the intensity the Parisians will face will be very different from what they’re used to in the league. But given the shortages in that area, the Spaniard could well have a role to play.
