Paris Saint-Germain will play Clermont at Parc des Princes on Saturday in their fifth Ligue 1 fixture of the season, aiming to make it five wins from five at the start of the season.
In common with their previous matches this term, Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be severely depleted, with the international break having played havoc with their plans.
Lionel Messi is among those who played an international fixture in South America in the early hours of Friday morning European time and will therefore miss out. But PSG have a large contingent of Argentines and Brazilians, and will therefore also be without Neymar, Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria.
Marquinhos, however, returned early and was training with the squad as of Thursday, which was effectively the green light he required to play.
Injuries have also been picked up over the international break. Kylian Mbappe will likely shrug off a thigh problem, but Presnel Kimpembe and Marco Verratti have both returned to the PSG camp with issues and could miss out with a Champions League date against Club Brugge looming in midweek.
Sergio Ramos remains an existing headache because of an ongoing calf problem and will have to wait to make his PSG debut.
Juan Bernat is not ready for action in the left-back berth and new signing Nuno Mendes is not ready to start.
In goal, however, Gianluigi Donnarumma will compete with Keylor Navas to feature and will likely be given the nod on this occasion.
The other positive news is that Argentine forward Mauro Icardi is back after a shoulder problem and could lead the line. If he is not deemed ready for 90 minutes, PSG will look to their youth ranks, with Sekou Yansane having trained with the team earlier in the week and Samuel Noireau-Dauriat having also worked with the squad.
Possible PSG XI v Clermont
