Turbulent skies rattled PSG's flight to Bilbao. A last-minute maneuver averted disaster, leaving players shaken but safe upon arrival.
Departing in the late morning from Paris to Bilbao, Paris Saint-Germain experienced a turbulent flight and had a big scare, but was finally able to land safely around 12:30 p.m.
The airplane is the safest mode of transport in the world, but accidents sometimes unfortunately happen. This Tuesday, PSG had a major scare during its flight to Bilbao, as revealed by RMC Sport early in the afternoon. Information that was also confirmed to us.
PSG took off this Tuesday morning at 11:14 from Le Bourget aboard its Boeing 737, and even before takeoff, the plane's pilot warned the Parisian delegation that there would be strong turbulence upon arrival in Spain. PSG was finally able to land around 12:32 p.m., according to RMC Sport, but had to face a very significant air pocket.
This forced the pilot to position the plane sideways upon arriving on the landing runway and then to straighten the plane and accelerate at the last moment before touching down. A delicate maneuver that fortunately ended well, but which certainly shook up the Parisian delegation, which then reached its hotel without issue.
Some people on board the flight were very shaken, and it will be necessary to see to what extent the Parisian players will be affected or not by this experience. Luis Enrique and Fabian Ruiz held a press conference this Tuesday starting at 5:15 p.m., and they did not mention it at all in front of the press; the coach discussed the upcoming training session without alluding to the difficult flight.
For its part, PSG shared photos of its players upon their arrival in the Basque Country and did not publicly comment on their plane journey.
Among the 16 outfield players called up by Enrique, four, in our view, should definitely not start: Desire Doue, Quentin Ndjantou, Ibrahim Mbaye, and Goncalo Ramos. There is uncertainty regarding several others, from Zabarnyi to Nuno Mendes, including Lee Kang-in.
PSG's predicted lineup vs. Athletic Bilbao: Safonov - Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes (or Zabarnyi) - Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz - Barcola, Mayulu (or Lee), Kvaratskhelia.
On the Athletic Bilbao side, Ernesto Valverde will be without his suspended center-back Aitor Paredes, as well as his other defender star Aymeric Laporte, who got injured last weekend against Atletico Madrid.
Athletic Bilbao's predicted lineup vs. PSG: Unai Simon - Areso, Vivian, Berchiche, Boiro - Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta - Berenguer, Sancet, Nico Williams - Guruzeta.