With two days to go until Paris Saint-Germain vs. Newcastle United, already seven players are confirmed to be absent for this match of the eighth Champions League matchday, but several others are doubtful or even highly doubtful. Here is an update at D-2.

With five days between its 1-0 victory at Auxerre and the arrival of Newcastle this Wednesday night at Parc des Princes, PSG hopes to recover several players compared to Friday.

The good news is that Ibrahim Mbaye made his return to competition with PSG in Burgundy after winning the AFCON with Senegal, and that Lucas Hernandez is no longer suspended in the Champions League after serving his two-match ban.

On Saturday and this Monday (the players were off on Sunday), Achraf Hakimi and Joao Neves also trained normally, as did Matvey Safonov, who has been back in gloves for a short time.

All three could therefore return to the squad this Wednesday, although this remains to be confirmed, especially for the Russian goalkeeper, who fractured his left hand on Dec. 17 against Flamengo.

Achraf Hakimi missed the match at Auxerre due to a minor physical issue, but likely mainly needed mental regeneration after a cruel AFCON final for him.

Joao Neves, who missed PSG's last three matches due to muscle discomfort, has been participating in full training sessions since last week and seems in a position to return to the squad and even the starting lineup, just like Nuno Mendes, who was rested against Auxerre but was present in training this Monday morning.

Also present on Saturday in the training images released by PSG, Lee Kang-in did not appear in those from this Monday, nor did Fabian Ruiz, already absent on Saturday.

The South Korean is recovering from a thigh injury sustained on Dec. 17, while the Spaniard took a knock to the knee against Sporting last Tuesday.

Both are therefore highly doubtful for PSG vs. Newcastle, but not yet ruled out. There are two Parisians who are, however, starting with Quentin Ndjantou, who continues his treatment protocol and has still not resumed full training.

The second is named Dro Fernandez, who will officially be a PSG player in the next few hours, normally, but who will not be able to play against the Magpies this Wednesday, since winter transfer window signings cannot play before the Champions League playoffs or round of 16.

MORE: Joan Laporta Addresses Dro Fernandez's Move To PSG

PSG will train this Tuesday morning at the Campus PSG starting at 11 a.m., and Luis Enrique will then appear at the pre-match press conference at 1 p.m. An opportunity, no doubt, to learn more about the condition of Achraf Hakimi, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Lee Kang-in, and Matvey Safonov.

On the Newcastle side, no players are suspended for Wednesday either, but at least four injured players will be absent from Parc des Princes: Swiss central defender Fabian Schar, English right-back Valentino Livramento, Swedish midfielder Emil Krafth, and English winger Jacob Murphy. All four have been injured for several matches and will not return in two days.

There are also two major doubts, or even three, on the English side, starting with Bruno Guimaraes, who injured his ankle last week against PSV Eindhoven and did not play against Aston Villa on Sunday.

"I still don't think it's a serious injury," Magpies coach Eddie Howe said on Sunday regarding his Brazilian captain. "He was not at his best today. I know he will do everything he can to be ready for Wednesday. We will see. He is very keen to play as soon as possible, but obviously he needs to be fully fit."

A starter against the Villans on Sunday, the Brazilian midfielder Joelinton injured himself during the match and had to give up his place in the 48th minute to Jacob Ramsey: "It looks like a groin injury," Howe confided after the match. "Yes, it would be a blow for us to lose him at any time. We hope it's not too serious."

Also a starter in midfield on Sunday, Sandro Tonali came off exhausted in the 84th minute against Aston Villa after being hit on the ankle midway through the first half. Eddie Howe did not mention the condition of his Italian midfielder after the match, but his case remains to be monitored until Wednesday.

Finally, Newcastle has not registered its English central defender, Jamaal Lascelles, for the Champions League, who had been a starter and captain twice against PSG during the 2023/24 season. He unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury in March 2024 and has hardly played since (only 19 minutes this season).

Injured (5): Ndjantou, Schar, Livramento, Krafth, Murphy.

Not registered (2): Dro, Lascelles.

Doubtful (9): Hakimi, Mendes, Neves, Safonov, Ruiz, Lee, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tonali.

PSG: Chevalier; Hakimi, Marquinhos (c), Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

Newcastle: Pope; Trippier (c), Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Tonali, Ramsey; Barnes, Wissa, Gordon.

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