Monitoring Desk
PARIS: Kylian Mbappe and Neymar both are likely to play for leaders Paris Saint-German as they resume their Ligue 1 season, 45 days after it was paused for the World Cup, with a home game against struggling Strasbourg.
Kylian Mbappe and Neymar
To celebrate Argentina’s victory in the World Cup final in Qatar, Lionel Messi is still at home and won’t be present in round 16. The club, however, has been encouraged by news that Messi, 35, is expected to sign a one-year extension to his contract, which expires in the summer.
Mbappe reported back to practice on Wednesday with Achraf Hakimi, one of the standouts in Morocco’s run to the semi-finals. Achraf Hakimi scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final but still found himself on the losing side as France failed the penalty shootout.
Only three of the 14 players from Ligue 1 representing eight different clubs made it to the Qatari semifinals: Mbappe, Messi, and Hakimi. Neymar and fellow countryman Marquinhos returned on Thursday after Neymar’s Brazil was eliminated by Croatia in the quarterfinals. Both players are anticipated to participate in Wednesday’s match at Parc des Princes.
PSG will play Lens in Flanders on Sunday with a five-point lead over Lens in second place.
Mbappe resumes training after the World Cup’s defeat
In the meantime, Lens will try to keep up the pressure on PSG going into that match when they travel to Nice on Thursday. As they travel to Reims on Thursday, third-placed Rennes will be accompanied by Croatian forward Lovro Majer and loaned Welsh defender Joe Rodon, both of whom recently played in Qatar.
As the first league game of the season approached, Rennes manager Bruno Genesio said, “For me, it’s a second season that’s starting up again, with the same uncertainties, the same unknowns.” The teams that handled this the best will be evaluated.
A Toulouse team that is stumbling around in mid-table will be hosted by Marseille, who are only one point behind in fourth.
‘Great boy’ Tagliafico
Not only has Messi won the World Cup, but Nicolas Tagliafico has also been enjoying his time in the spotlight and will be missing Lyon’s trip to Brest on Wednesday.
Tagliafico has won the world championship, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him, said Lyon coach Laurent Blanc, who took over in October after Peter Bosz was fired following a run of five losses. He is getting married on the 28th, and his return is scheduled for January 1. He currently has many reasons to rejoice.
“I hope he returns in good health. Being the world champion is an honor. I hope he returns soon”.
Lyon is currently eighth in the table and 10 points outside of the Champions League spots, which has led to Blanc’s insistence that if they want to compete, they must be active in the January transfer window.
On Monday, he said, “We need to strengthen the team. “I’m not asking for anything at all. I’m informing my owners and directors that the team needs to get better if we want to meet our goals. The relegation zone will also be in the spotlight as bottom team Anger, which is three points behind Strasbourg, travels to Ajaccio, which is only four points and two places above them.
