Ousmane Dembele is only fit enough to make the bench as PSG host Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
PSG’s influential top scorer was the early match-winner in last week’s first-leg clash at the Emirates Stadium, beating David Raya via the inside of the post with a stylish first-time finish in just the fourth minute.
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That goal silenced the home crowd and gave Luis Enrique’s reigning French champions a crucial lead to take back to the Parc des Princes for tonight’s pivotal return fixture, where a place in the showpiece in Munich on May 31 against Inter Milan is on the line.
However, Dembele was replaced by France team-mate Bradley Barcola after 70 minutes in north London, with Enrique admitting after the game that he had suffered a hamstring injury and was a doubt for the second leg.
The 27-year-old was among a whole host of players to miss out on Saturday as much-changed PSG lost in Ligue 1 for the second time in a row against Strasbourg, with everybody who started against Arsenal rested for a 2-1 defeat by Liam Rosenior’s side at the Stade de la Meinau, bar midfielder Joao Neves.
However, Dembele was pictured back in training in Paris both on Monday evening and again on Tuesday morning, before Enrique claimed the forward was fit to resume his usual starting role on Wednesday. The winger only makes the bench, though, with Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Barcola starting on either flank, with Desire Doue playing through the middle.
Enrique will be without a useful reserve option in South Korean winger Lee Kang-in, who made way for Doue at half-time at the weekend after suffering a shin complaint.
PSG remain without centre-back stalwart Presnel Kimpembe, who is being rested at the moment as he deals with swelling in his foot having only returned from two years out injured back in February. Captain Marquinhos and Willian Pacho are the first-choice central defenders.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is among the first names on the teamsheet in goal and starred with a couple of crucial saves in the first leg, with Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes the regular full-backs.
Neves should again be joined in midfield by Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha, with Dembele - if fully fit - flanked up top by Kvaratskhelia and Doue.
Confirmed PSG XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Vitinha, Ruiz, Neves; Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Barcola
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Ramos, Dembele, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Zaire-Emery, Beraldo, Tape, Mbaye
Injured: Kimpembe
Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday May 7, 2025
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
How to watch: TNT Sports
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
