How will PSG face Manchester United while Neymar will be injured?

Neymar's last foot injury comes at a particularly embarrbading time for Paris Saint-Germain, with his biggest match of the season fast approaching.

On February 12, PSG will face Manchester United without the Brazilian striker, who will face in about 10 weeks. With Neymar so influential on the PSG game, it means that coach Thomas Tuchel must rethink tactically. He has three matches, two in the league and one in the Coupe de France.

Since joining PSG last season, Neymar's favorite teammate on the field, in terms of understanding, has always been Kylian Mbappe. While they were constantly looking on the field, with sometimes complex pbades, this often excluded Edinson Cavani from PSG's play of approach. He also infuriated Cavani, the club's top scorer. He let his frustration manifest itself several times after being replaced.

But things have improved for him in recent weeks and Cavani is the second-leading scorer in the league with 16 goals – two behind Mbappe. Encouraging signs have shown that the Cavani-Mbappe partnership, often described as non-functional by the French media, actually worked.

This is good news for Tuchel.

PARTNERSHIP IN FULL STRENGTH?

Mbappe scored Cavani for the fourth goal of a 4-1 win over Rennes last weekend. Previously, Cavani scored two of Mbappe's three goals in a 9-0 loss to Guingamp. He had also contributed to his goal in a 3-0 win at Amiens.

The body language between the two is also visibly improved.

Although they respected each other, nothing resembled the electricity between Neymar and Mbappe. But in the last three games, Cavani and Mbappe have seemed a lot more grateful. Mbappe quickly praised Cavani after scoring, and they play as a true partnership.

In the final match, they were both deployed in a 4-4-2 formation alongside wingmen Angel Di Maria and Julian Draxler.

However, the fact that PSG scored 16 goals in those three games revealed only weaker defenses than United's.

Although United's defense is far from excellent – only one Premier League Top 11 team this season has conceded more – crossing United's midfield to attack the vulnerable line of defense can to prove problematic. Especially without Neymar, which brings an unpredictable and sometimes awesome look to the game of PSG.

MIDFIELD COMPETITION

United's main midfielders are in great form and fit. Paul Pogba has scored regularly since the departure of Jose Mourinho.

The sporty and skillful Pogba is cleverly supported by tactically clever Nemanja Matic, while the dreaded Ander Herrera adds spice.

In comparison, Tuchel has worries in the middle of the field, with Marco Verratti recovering from a sprained left ankle and Adrien Rabiot out of favor because of a transfer dispute.

If Verratti does not play and it is highly unlikely that Rabiot will do it, then Tuchel could be forced to play either Draxler or Marquinhos in the middle of the field.

Verratti's wide range of pbades, as well as his ability to sink deeply and play the ball quickly, are essential to PSG's offensive game. Without him, the PSG tends to look a little slow in the middle of the field, as was the case in the first half against Rennes. As Tuchel probably knows, it could play in United's hands.

IMPORTANT TRIAL

Sunday's game against Lyon takes another dimension for PSG, if only because it should be much more competitive than the last three.

Lyon wants a second place and an automatic place in the Champions League next season; he owns one of the best league midfielders and two of the most coveted midfielders of European football.

Houssem Aouar and Tanguy Ndombele – 20 and 22, respectively – left an indelible mark on Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in the group stage of the Champions League. Lyon won at Manchester and drew at home, and the midfielder pair stood out. They have been linked to several big clubs, including Aouar to City.

"Houssem Aouar is a very good player, he is incredible," Guardiola said. "We talk a lot about Ndombele, but Aouar is also excellent, he is always very calm, the ball at his feet, with excellent technical quality."

Considering the midfielders with whom he worked – David Silva at City, previously Xavi and Andres Iniesta in Barcelona -, it's a eulogy.

AP

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