Hakimi among PSG's 3 X-Factors to power past Nice
1 November 2025
Lineup changes and returning stars
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique named the starting XI for the Ligue 1 clash with Nice on Saturday at Parc des Princes, selecting a 21-man squad for the game.
Back in action for PSG are Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, and Kang-In Lee, with Desire Doy ruled out due to a thigh tear and teenager Ibrahim Mbaye with the under-19s as he mends or trains away from first-team duties.
PSG travel into the weekend following a 1-1 draw at Lorient, just three days before hosting Bayern Munich in the Champions League, a test the club hopes to pass as they push for both domestic and European glory.
Fabian Ruiz makes his return after a long layoff since the Barcelona clash, having trained with the squad in recent days as he regains match fitness.
Hakimi comes back after being rested against Lorient, and Lee Kang-in also returns after illness. Ousmane Dembélé is included in the squad and could feature off the bench, with coach Enrique weighing his options for a game that could define the weekend for PSG.
The list of PSG players for the match includes:
Goalkeepers: Lucas Shovalyieh, Matvei Saponov, Renato Marin. Defence: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Peraldo, Elia Zabarni, Lucas Hernandez, Nuno Mendes, Willian Bacho. Midfield: Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Kentin Ngantou, Warren Zaire-Emery, Sini Maiolo, Joao Neves. Attack: Khvicha Kavatskhelia, Gonzalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembele, Lee Kang-in, Bradley Barcola.
The upcoming opponent, Nice, will not be an easy task, as the southern club arrives with confidence after a three-game winning streak in Ligue 1 and a fond memory of beating the reigning champions last season in Paris.
PSG are well aware that Nice can cause another upset, thanks to lively players who can lock down defensively and hit with precision on transition moments.
PSG’s recent season snapshot shows a squad firing on all fronts. They have started the campaign with six victories and a single defeat to Marseille in the Classique, with a couple of draws on the board as well. Early-season wins over Nantes and Angers were narrow, while a 6-3 thrashing of Toulouse and 2-0 wins over Lens and Auxerre underscored their attacking prowess. Before the international break, they drew away to Lille and at home to Strasbourg, before securing a win over Brest and grinding out a draw with Lorient to temporarily reclaim the top spot.
In Europe, PSG have been undefeated after four matches, beginning with the UEFA Super Cup triumph over Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw. In the group stage, they opened with a 4-0 win over Atalanta, followed by a 2-1 win at Barcelona and a 7-2 crushing of Bayer Leverkusen as they chase the title defense in the continental competition.
Off the field, PSG completed three summer signings aimed at strengthening the defense and goalkeeping stocks with young talents: goalkeeper Lucas Shovalyieh from Lille, defender Elia Zabarni from Bournemouth, and young Italian keeper Renato Marin from Roma.
In short, Paris Saint-Germain arrive in good form and with a squad ready to contend on multiple fronts, chasing a domestic title and a deep run in Europe, while Nice look to frustrate the hosts with discipline and pace.
And yes, if you’re wondering, the ball will probably need a passport too—it’s about to travel a lot this weekend. Punchline incoming below, because football and comedy both love a good interception: 1) The defense is so solid, even the scoreboard files a restraining order. 2) PSG’s plan is simple: score often, concede rarely, and pretend the crossbar is a magician—it never fails to disappear when needed.
