Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain have been dealt a hammer blow on the personnel front, ahead of their upcoming meeting with Bayern Munich.
Rivalries renewed
The Champions League is of course set to return to screens across the globe next week.
On the back of an intermission for the season’s final round of international fixtures, European football’s heavyweights will face off over two legs, for a spot in the competition’s final-4.
A host of mouthwatering ties lie in store, including a showdown between the champions of Spain and England, and a tantalising Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund clash.
What could well prove to be the most entertaining tie, though, from an ‘easy on the eye’ perspective at least, is the meeting between PSG and Bayern Munich.
The sides of course went head to head in the Champions League showpiece last season, with Bundesliga champions Bayern having eventually emerged on the right side of a 1-0 scoreline.
Bayern Munich’s French forward Kingsley Coman (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammates during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on August 23, 2020. (Photo by Miguel A. Lopes / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL A. LOPES/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Hansi Flick and co., though, will be forced to see out both of their upcoming meetings with PSG without the services of the club’s star performer.
This comes after Robert Lewandowski picked up a knee injury whilst on international duty, which has since seen the Pole ruled out for around a month:
Robert Lewandowski has suffered sprained ligaments in his right knee. The striker will be out for around four weeks. pic.twitter.com/aK7lPgso3g
— 🏆🏆🏆FC Bayern English🏆🏆🏆 (@FCBayernEN) March 30, 2021
Verratti ruled out
But, as outlined above, Bayern are not the only ones to have been dealt a serious personnel blow ahead of the fast-approaching Champions League showdown.
In a statement across the club’s social media platforms this evening, PSG have confirmed that Marco Verratti has returned a positive test for Covid-19.
The gifted midfielder, in turn, is set to enter a mandatory period of self isolation.
He has therefore been ruled out of PSG’s crunch top-of-the-table clash with Lille this weekend, as well as the first-leg of the club’s meeting with Bayern.
Suite au dernier test PCR Sars-Cov2, Marco Verratti est confirmé positif. Il va donc respecter l’isolement et est soumis au protocole sanitaire approprié.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) April 2, 2021
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