January 08, (THEWILL) – For Sunday’s Ligue 1 match against Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain will be without Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
THEWILL recalls that Messi tested positive for COVID-19 while in Argentina, and as a result, he was unable to play in PSG’s 4-0 Coupe de France victory over Vannes on Monday.
On Wednesday, though, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner returned a negative test and was expected to play against Lyon. Yet, the 34-year-old will “continue his post-COVID individual recovery protocol for the next few days,” according to the Ligue 1 leaders.
After recently returning positive tests, Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler, Danilo Pereira, Layvin Kurzawa, and Gianluigi Donnarumma remain in isolation, according to PSG.
Meanwhile, Neymar’s recuperation has resumed, and he is expected to return to training in three weeks.
Mauricio Pochettino, PSG’s head coach, agrees that his squad would have to adapt in the absence of key players, but argues that every team is in the same situation.
“All teams have absent players; so do we,” he noted during his pre-match press conference. “We have to adapt to everyday life. Sometimes, we have to change our plans.
“It’s the same every game, we always have to make choices. We have to put the players in the best conditions.”
Pochettino reserved praise for Peter Bosz’s Lyon side, saying: “They are one of the best teams in France. He is a very great coach. In the end, they will be fighting for the first places. It will be difficult, but we are optimistic.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
