Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique will be forced into a defensive alteration for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes.
Les Parisiens paid the price for wasted chances in last week's 1-0 first-leg loss, where Lucas Hernandez was withdrawn in the 42nd minute due to a cruel ACL injury, one which has crushed his dreams of representing France at Euro 2024.
Hernandez, who memorably suffered a similar problem at the 2022 World Cup, joins Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Layvin Kurzawa (back) and Sergio Rico (head) on the treatment table, but Enrique is spoiled for choice when it comes to replacements.
Danilo Pereira and Milan Skriniar are both waiting in the wings, but the latter has been demoted to a bench role due to his sub-par form of late, so 20-year-old Lucas Beraldo - who stepped in for Hernandez in the first leg - should get the nod.
The Brazilian is set to form an otherwise untouched rearguard with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes, who was given a rough ride by Jadon Sancho at the Signal Iduna Park.
Manuel Ugarte could offer a more sturdy presence in midfield, but Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Warren Zaire-Emery should hold their places, while Enrique has some big decisions to make up top too.
Kylian Mbappe is a shoo-in for what may be his last appearance in the Champions League for PSG, but the ineffective Bradley Barcola and wasteful Ousmane Dembele might be at risk of the axe.
The latter was still a threat at his old stomping ground and may have done enough to reprise his role, but Goncalo Ramos - who has five goals in his last five Ligue 1 games - should be trusted from the off this time around, thereby shifting Mbappe to a left-wing position.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery; Dembele, Ramos, Mbappe
> Click here to see how Dortmund could line up for the second leg body check tags ::
