Young Talent Emerges as Hakimi Becomes PSG’s Absence Insurance in Lyon Showdown

PSG's Young Talent Steps Up as Hakimi Is Out

The Paris Saint‑Germain squad arrives at the Lyon game with a handful of injuries, and coach Luis Enrique has named the team for the Ligue 1 round 12 match. Key players are sidelined: Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Désiré Doy, and Ousmane Dembélé will miss action for several weeks.

Hakimi, Mendes and Dembélé were hurt in the 1‑2 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night, a result that has PSG worrying about their short‑term European and domestic agenda.

In response, Enrique turned to a bright, Ivory Coast‑born French prospect, David Poli, to cover for Hakimi. Poli, born January 22, 2009, is part of PSG’s under‑19 cadre and is now called up to the first team for the league clash against Lyon.

Looking at the 20‑man squad named for the game, three goalkeepers are listed; a defensive unit featuring seasoned internationals alongside rising talents; a midfield group including Vitinha, Zaire‑Emery and Neves; and a forward line anchored by Kavatskhelia, Mbaye, Ramos and Barcola.

PSG currently sit third in Ligue 1 with 24 points, while Lyon occupy fifth with 20 points ahead of today’s kickoff.

Head‑to‑head history remains favorable to PSG: the clubs have met 111 times, PSG winning 51, Lyon 34, with 26 draws. PSG has scored 194 goals to Lyon’s 147, according to Transfermarkt.

In terms of results this season, PSG have seven wins and one loss in the league (a 0‑1 defeat to Marseille in a classic clash played around the Ballon d’Or ceremony), with two draws. Their late‑summer run included 1‑0 wins over Nantes and Angers, a 6‑3 drubbing of Toulouse, a 2‑0 victory over Lens, and a 2‑0 win against Auxerre.

Before the international break in October, PSG drew 1‑1 at Lille and 3‑3 with Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes, briefly losing the top spot before reclaiming it with wins over Brest and Lorient, followed by a narrow 1‑0 win against Nice as they chased a fifth straight national crown.

On the continental front, PSG have played five matches this season, winning four. They opened the campaign by clinching the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham on penalties after a 2‑2 draw, then beat Barcelona 2‑1 in Montjuïc and hammered Bayer Leverkusen 7‑2 before a 2‑1 defeat to Bayern in the group stage.

PSG’s injury woes have persisted, shaping a season in which Luis Enrique’s team sits third in Ligue 1 with 24 points, trailing leaders Marseille and Lens by a point and with a game in hand. The head‑to‑head record remains a reminder of the challenge Lyon presents, even as PSG push to consolidate domestic supremacy.

Punchlines aside, if PSG manages the run and the squad stays disciplined, maybe their trophy cabinet will finally come with a fitness app that actually works. And if not, at least the kids have a maverick story to tell at training grounds around the country.