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PSG will be looking to end 2021 on a high as they travel to Stade du Moustoir to take on 19th-placed Lorient on Wednesday.
This should be easy pickings for PSG as their Wednesday opponents have been in dire straits in recent weeks. Lorient have lost all of their last eight games across all competitions. They have their work cut out trying to turn their fortunes around against the Ligue 1 leaders, who are currently 13 points clear at the top.
PSG come into the game on the back of a 3-0 win over Feignies-Aulnoye in the Coupe de France at the weekend. Kylian Mbappe bagged a brace and Mauro Icardi got a goal as PSG won comfortably. Mauricio Pochettino's men got the better of AS Monaco in their latest Ligue 1 outing.
Mbappe left his mark on the derby by bagging a brace in that game as well. The Frenchman has been in top form in recent weeks. He will miss this game though after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against AS Monaco.
Lorient have won just one of their last 13 matches. Without further ado, let's take a look at how PSG could line up against Lorient on Wednesday.
PSG Possible Lineup against Lorient
PSG Goalkeeper - Gianluigi Donnarumma
Keylor Navas' blooper against Lens a couple of weeks ago seems to have helped Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian international guarded the sticks in the games against Club Brugge and AS Monaco. Navas started against SC Feignies in the Coupe de France.
Now it most definitely looks like Donnarumma is going to return against Lorient and perhaps be the first-choice goalkeeper in the league.
Right-back - Achraf Hakimi
Achraf Hakimi is one of PSG's main attacking outlets. His pace and ball progressing abilities are important to the side. The Morocco international has not been at his best in recent weeks but his quality is undeniable. It will only be a matter of time before he starts affecting the game more directly.
Centre-back - Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos started the game against SC Feignies and did a good job. The former Real Madrid man looks to be gaining match fitness and is likely to start against Lorient.
Centre-back - Marquinhos
The ever-reliable Marquinhos will start alongside Sergio Ramos at centre-back. He turned in an impressive performance against AS Monaco and Pochettino will be hoping for more of the same from his captain.
Left-back - Abdou Diallo
Juan Bernat and Nuno Mendes are both doubts for this game. Diallo has featured in recent games alongside Marquinhos as the left-sided center-back ahead of Presnel Kimpembe. He is thus expected to keep his place in the starting XI but he will start at left-back.
Defensive midfielder - Leandro Paredes
PSG midfielder Marco Verratti is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. He picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against AS Monaco, the same as Kylian Mbappe. Both players will serve a one-game suspension.
Leandro Paredes is a player more in the mold of Verratti than the rest. So even though the Argentine international last started against Lens but is likely to be named in the starting lineup against Lorient.
The 27-year-old has not been at his best this season and there is a lot of competition for a starting berth in midfield at PSG. But his passing ability should come in handy here in the absence of Verratti.
Central midfield - Idrissa Gueye
Idrissa Gueye adds a lot of bite to PSG's midfield. The Senegalese international has been a regular feature in PSG's lineup this season. He has started 16 games across Ligue 1 and the Champions League this term. Gueye has done a very good job so far.
He has also scored three goals in Ligue 1 this term. Gueye showcases a lot of energy and is a tenacious presence in the centre of the pitch. The 32-year-old loves a tackle but he also overcommits at times and that's why he is not known for being the tidiest footballer around.
Gueye will have a job to do against Lorient and he is likely to be picked over Danilo Pereira here.
Central midfield - Georginio Wijnaldum
Georginio Wijnaldum did not hit the ground running at PSG. He endured a slow start to life in the French capital and a large section of PSG's fanbase had even written him off as an ill-advised signing.
However, the Dutchman has shown signs of kicking into gear in recent weeks. He has performed much better over the past couple of months and has been getting some much needed minutes as well.
Wijnaldum could definitely do a lot better than he has so far but he has the ability to be a great asset to this PSG side.
Left-winger - Angel Di Maria
If Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe were both unavailable for a game together, that would normally mean bad news. Neymar is yet to recover from an ankle injury and Mbappe is suspended for the game.
However, PSG can still field a world-class frontline thanks to their incredible squad depth. Angel Di Maria has done pretty well in recent times and the Argentine is expected to start on the left wing against Lorient.
Di Maria was excellent against Club Bruges and picked up an assist in that game. He was also one of PSG's best players against AS Monaco. Di Maria's ability to thread through balls in and around the final third will also come in handy.
Striker - Mauro Icardi
Mauro Icardi has been heavily linked with an exit in January. Juventus are reportedly interested in the Argentinian striker. He doesn't seem to have much of a role to play in this Paris Saint-Germain team.
Icardi scored in PSG's win against Feignies Aulnoye. He has not exactly been among the goals this season. Icardi has made 19 appearances across all competitions so far and he has scored just four goals.
He has started just six Ligue 1 games this season but has come off the bench eight times. The 28-year-old has scored just three goals in Ligue 1 this season.
Right-winger - Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has played as a false nine in recent times. However, with Kylian Mbappe missing out due to suspension. As a result, Messi will return to the right wing and is likely to be an all-Argentian frontline for Paris Saint-Germain against Lorient.
Messi picked up an assist in the game against Club Bruges. He looks much more settled in recent weeks and the seven-time Ballon d'Or will look to add to his goal tally here against much weaker opposition.
He will need to help out in defence a bit more than he usually does now that he is set to be deployed on the right-wing.
