Luis Enrique has named a strong lineup for PSG's Ligue 1 match(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Luis Enrique makes bold PSG selection call before Arsenal Champions League clash

by · football.london

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has named a full-strength team to face Nice this evening, despite the upcoming Champions League semi-final tie against Arsenal next Tuesday (April 29, 8pm).

The French champions will be in Ligue 1 action at Parc des Princes, having already retained the league trophy for a fourth consecutive year.

Nonetheless, the Spanish boss has decided not to rest any of his key players for the crunch Champions League tie.

PSG booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition despite a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa at Villa Park earlier this month, progressing 5-4 on aggregate.

For the match against Nice, the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele, and Joao Neves will all start.

Apart from Marquinhos, Enrique has named the same team that started against Villa in the first leg of the quarter-finals.

In the second leg, Marquinhos returned to the lineup, with the only change being Bradley Barcola starting ahead of Doue.

PSG XI to face Nice(Image: PSG X (Twitter) account)

The French giants are yet to lose a game in the league having won 24 of 30 Ligue 1 fixtures, drawing the other four.

Ahead of the clash with Arsenal, Enrique admitted that his team has not worked on defending set pieces. "No, I haven’t planned to work on set pieces because I’ve known Arsenal for a very long time," he told reporters as translated by RMC Sport.

"We’ve already played them this season. The qualities and flaws that have got us this far are the same.

"We want to win every trophy by playing the way we play and defending the way we defend.

"No team in the world is perfect, and neither will we be."


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