Ligue 1 Restarts With Mbappe And Neymar Back With PSG
The Ligue 1 season will begin in France on Wednesday, 45 days after it was suspended for the World Cup, with leaders Paris Saint-Germain hosting struggling Strasbourg. Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are both expected to play key roles for PSG. Although he is still at home enjoying Argentina's victory in the World Cup final in Qatar, Lionel Messi won't be on display in round 16. However, news that Messi, 35, is expected to sign a one-year extension to his contract, which expires in the summer, has given the team hope. Mbappe returned to practice on Wednesday together with Achraf Hakimi, one of the stars of Morocco's journey to the semi-finals. Despite scoring a hat-trick in the World Cup final, Mbappe still lost because France failed the penalty shootout.
Only three of the 14 Ligue 1 players from eight different clubs, including Mbappe, Messi, and Hakimi, advanced to the Qatari semifinals. Neymar and fellow countryman Marquinhos returned on Thursday after Neymar's Brazil was eliminated by Croatia in the quarterfinals. Both players are anticipated to participate in Wednesday's match at Parc des Princes. PSG will play Lens in Flanders on Sunday with a five-point lead over Lens in second place. When they travel to Nice on Thursday, Lens will try to keep the pressure on PSG going into that match. As they travel to Reims on Thursday, third-placed Rennes will have Croatia's Lovro Majer and loaned Wales defender Joe Rodon back from their recent action in Qatar.
Bruno Genesio, manager of Rennes, said, "For me, it's a second season that's beginning up again, with the same uncertainties, the same unknowns before a first league match of the season." We'll compare which teams handled this situation the best. A Toulouse team that is bouncing around in the middle of the league will be hosted by Marseille, who are only one point behind in fourth. Not only has Messi won the World Cup, but Nicolas Tagliafico has also been basking in the limelight and will be away from Wednesday's match between Lyon and Brest.
"Tagliafico has been world champion, and I take this chance to congratulate him," said Laurent Blanc, the new coach of Lyon after Peter Bosz was fired in October following a run of five losses. He is getting married on the 28th and is scheduled to return on January 1. He currently has a lot to be happy about. "I hope he returns in excellent form. Being the world champion is an accomplishment. I hope he gets back soon.
Blanc insisted that Lyon will need to be active in the January transfer window if they want to contend because they are now seventh in the standings and 10 points outside of the Champions League spots. He stated on Monday, "We need to strengthen the team. "I make no demands whatsoever. I'm informing my owners and directors that we need to strengthen the team if we hope to meet our goals. Just that." The bottom team Angers, which is three points behind Strasbourg and playing at Ajaccio, which is only four points and two places above them, will draw attention to the relegation zone as well.
