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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Arthur Ferridge

Paris Saint-Germain confirm travelling squad ahead of Arsenal Champions League clash

Super sub: Desire Doue will hope to make an impact at the Emirates - (AFP via Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed their travelling squad for Tuesday night’s visit to the Emirates, where they will face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

It will not be the first time the two sides have met in the competition - Arsenal ran out victors 2-0 as the pair went toe-to-toe in the league phase, goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka making the difference.

But the French champions are much improved since October, establishing themselves as an out-and-out favourite in the competition.

They downed Aston Villa in the quarter-finals by a narrow 5-4 aggregate margin after wobbling late in the second leg. To beat Arsenal would see PSG qualify for the final for the first time since 2020.

Luis Enrique will bring a strong squad to London for the first leg, carrying no fresh injury concerns and no suspensions.

Fabian Ruiz was back amongst the goals as PSG lost to Nice at the weekend (AFP via Getty Images)

Having already secured the Ligue 1 title, he rested some key players as PSG hosted Nice at the weekend. João Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Desire Doue, Marquinhos, and Ousmane Dembele all started but were rested for much of the second half as the visitors took a commanding 1-3 win.

Achraf Hakimi, PSG’s most productive playmaker this campaign with five assists, will travel with the squad and will likely be tasked with containing Gabriel Martinelli on Tuesday.

It would be no great surprise to see Enrique name a front line similar to that which started the second leg against Aston Villa, as Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia all make the plane alongside Desire Doue, who has played a super-sub role throughout this campaign.

The same can be said of the midfield, where Enrique has tended to stick to his preferred trio of Ruiz, Vitinha, and Neves this year.

Paris Saint-Germain travelling squad in full

Goalkeepers: Donnarumma, Safonov, Tenas

Defenders: Hakimi, Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Hernandez, Nuno Mendes, Beraldo, Pacho

Midfielders: Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Kang-In, Mayulu, Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves

Forwards: Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Dembele, Barcola, Mbaye

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