A week before the Champions League semi-final against FC Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain are growing increasingly nervous. The French top club are currently without two key players – and that just before the most important game of the season
The situation surrounding midfielder Vitinha is particularly explosive. The Portuguese international is definitely out of the Ligue 1 replay against FC Nantes due to inflammation in his right heel, which he suffered in the 2-1 defeat against Olympique Lyon
As PSG confirmed in an official medical update, the 26-year-old is currently undergoing treatment and will not be examined again until the end of the week
It is therefore completely open whether Vitinha will be fit in time for the semi-final first leg against FC Bayern. Coach Luis Enrique already put the brakes on at the press conference: „We will deal with the situation calmly and prudently and wait and see. But I don’t know.“
Nuno Mendes is also on the fence
In addition to Vitinha, Nuno Mendes is also a question mark. Although the left-back is working on his comeback, he is not yet ready for action. Following muscular problems, he has only completed parts of training recently
It will be too early for him to play against Nantes – and PSG are also unlikely to take any risks in view of the Bayern clash
The absences hit the French champions at a sensitive time, with the semi-final against FC Bayern not only a sporting highlight, but possibly also the early final of the premier class
Players like Vitinha in particular are almost impossible to replace, as his role in the build-up play and in the center is fundamental to Luis Enrique’s system
It remains to be seen whether the potential absences will actually be an advantage for FC Bayern, but one thing is clear: every setback in terms of personnel weighs twice as heavily at this stage of the season
For PSG, this marks the start of a race against time – and for Bayern, a crucial door could open shortly before the clash of the giants.