90min

Paris Saint-Germain predicted lineup vs Ajaccio - Ligue 1

By Grey Whitebloom

Christopher Galtier has won all three of his managerial meetings with Ajaccio
Christopher Galtier has won all three of his managerial meetings with Ajaccio / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages
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Paris Saint-Germain travel to Corsica to face newly promoted Ajaccio in Ligue 1 on Friday night.

Even though Kylian Mbappe has convincingly dismissed the rumours which detailed his unhappiness at PSG - including his role as a central striker - Christophe Galtier changed the system for the first time this season last weekend, moving to a back-four and shifting the Frenchman wider on the left - purely coincidentally, of course.

Here's the lineup Galtier may deploy on Friday as he continues his juggling act of ballooned egos and sky-high expectations.

1. PSG XI (4-3-3)

GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma - As a 14-year-old, 'Gigio' was behind the ruse which saw his father request a meeting with Milan's chief executive under the pretence of discussing his older brother Antonio. Once they had Adriano Galliani's attention, Donnarumma Jr. finagled a trial, breaking into the first team two years later.

RB: Achraf Hakimi - Few players are better suited to the specific role of a wingback but Hakimi can (begrudgingly) play in a back-four if required.

CB: Nordi Mukiele - The former Paris FC youth team player will have the full breadth and width of his versatility tested in light of the injuries scattered throughout PSG's defensive ranks.

CB: Marquinhos - PSG's skipper is the only member of the current squad that featured in the club's most recent meeting with Ajaccio, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win at the Stade François-Coty in 2014.

LB: Juan Bernat - Upon his arrival at Bayern Munich, the club's sporting director Matthias Sammer outlined Bernat's style: "He plays football the same way as he talks - quick, succinct and with substance."

CM: Fabian Ruiz - Alongside his abundant skillset, Ruiz's Real Betis manager Quique Setien was keen to stress that the 26-year-old is "a very humble boy".

CM: Marco Verratti - The Italian terrier is one booking away from suspension, a tightrope he invariably walks multiple times a season.

CM: Vitinha - 15 games into his PSG career, Vitinha remains unbeaten (W12 D3).

RW: Pablo Sarabia - In the absence of Neymar, Galtier may turn to the winger that finished as Sporting CP's top scorer during his loan spell last season.

ST: Lionel Messi - Ajaccio will be the 111th different club side Messi has faced in his historic career, the Argentine has scored against 92 of the previous 110.

LW: Kylian Mbappe - “I want you to stay. I don’t want you to leave now. You are so important for the country,” was the plea the French president Emmanuel Macron reportedly delivered to Mbappe when weighing in on his future last summer.

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