Worrying Update Provided on Fitness of PSG Star Nuno Mendes

Last time out, PSG pulled off an important three points away to RC Strasbourg on match day seven of the Ligue 1 season.

Another goal for Desire Doue, a goal and assist for Ousmane Dembele, a rare strike from Ilya Zabarnyi. Plenty of things for Luis Enrique and his management staff to be happy with.

The win did not come without consequence, however. Indeed not, as Nuno Mendes - who had come on as a sub himself - had to be withdrawn in the 87th minute of the game after picking up a thigh injury.

Well, it looks like the nightmare scenario might be upon us. Indeed so, as L’Equipe are reporting that the Portuguese left back will miss the mouth watering UEFA Champions League clash at home to Spanish Champions FC Barcelona on Tuesday night.

This contradicts the report we aggregated from RMC Sport, whom said that nobody at PSG was sweating over Mendes’ fitness. In fairness, both things could be true. Whilst the Barcelona game will be a great occasion, it is not the most important game. If the diagnosis was a one week or so minor injury, the club would be relieved even if he missed the Champions League clash.

For now, let’s assume Mendes will indeed miss the game. What does Luis Enrique do to try and navigate the absence of one of his key players?

It has been a tough start to life back in the French capital for Lucas Digne, even being left out of a match day squad for one game. But, in the absence of Mendes from the starting XI against Strasbourg, it was the former Everton defender who got the nod.

There is the alternative of Lucas Hernandez at left back, considering the amount of games he has played there during his career— but it feels clear that Enrique sees him as cover at centre half instead, and that is where he played on Saturday afternoon.

You do worry about Digne vs Lamine Yamal. In the World Cup semi final, he conceded a penalty by clumsily fouling the Barcelona winger. That said, he generally did a reasonable job on him other than that— so perhaps it won’t quite be as bad of a match up as it does seem on paper. Let’s see.

Although it would be great to have Mendes for this game, unless he is 100%, fully ready, there is no need to risk him in a league phase game.