KEY POINTS
- PSG recently lost 2-1 to Marseille in Coupe de France
- PSG will next take on Monaco in Ligue 1
- PSG are already without Mbappe for a few games
Lionel Messi could miss Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich later this month due to an injury.
Messi picked up a hamstring injury in PSG’s Coupe de France 2-1 defeat to Marseille, which could keep him out of the first leg of his side’s Round of 16 meeting with Bayern Munich, reported French outlet L’Equipe.
PSG are scheduled to host the German champions at Parc des Princes on Feb. 14. Before that, the Ligue 1 side will travel to Monaco for a league game this Sunday at Stade Louis II.
The Paris-based club is expected to officially confirm Messi’s injury when head coach Christopher Galtier attends the pre-match conference Friday ahead of their trip to Monaco.
Messi, who has been in fine form for PSG this season, has been struggling with more injuries than ever. The latest one is the third injury he sustained in the 2022-23 campaign, after dealing with calf problems and Achilles tendon problems toward the end of last year.
Injuries have seen Messi already miss at least four games for PSG in the ongoing campaign but this time around, PSG will be eager to have the Argentinian forward back in action as soon as possible, considering they are already without Kylian Mbappe.
PSG would not want to take on Bayern next week without two of their front-three members missing on the pitch.
Earlier this month, Mbappe suffered a hamstring injury during PSG’s 3-1 victory over Montpellier in Ligue 1. It was reported that the French forward would miss at least five matches, including PSG’s home leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Bayern Munich. The second leg of the game will be held on March 8 at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
PSG’s front-three players – Messi, Mbappe and Neymar – have been in fine form this season. While Mbappe has netted 25 goals in 26 games, the South American duo has scored 32 goals combined (Messi 15 and Neymar 17).
The Ligue 1 leaders have managed just three wins out of their last five league outings and Galtier’s side would want to secure three crucial points on Friday against Monaco. PSG have 54 points from 22 games and are eight points clear at the top of the 2022-23 Ligue 1 table.
