Enrique Pulls a Bold Move: Hakimi Left Out as PSG Pins Hopes on Youth Against Lorient

Lineup Shocks and Bold Choices

The Spanish manager, Luis Enrique, has continued his pattern of bold and sometimes provocative decisions since the season began, signaling that PSG will not default to the safest option. For the visit to Lorient, he handed Kenten Enganto his first starting opportunity of the campaign, selecting him ahead of Vitinha as part of a broader shake‑up aimed at testing the squad’s depth.

PSG’s starting XI featured Lucas Chevalier in goal, a back four comprising Lucas Beraldo, Marquinhos, Elia Zabarnyi, and Nuno Mendes, with a youthful midfield trio of Warren Zaïre-Emery, Seny Myolo, and Kenten Enganto. In attack, the front three consisted of Desiré Doy, Ibrahim Mbaye, and Ousmane Dembélé.

Dembele started for the first time since earning the Ballon d’Or this year, after a muscular injury kept him out for more than six weeks, having appeared as a substitute in recent fixtures against Bayer Leverkusen and Brest.

PSG’s bench list was lengthy, with nine players on call, underscoring Enrique’s breadth of options as the team navigates a busy schedule. The Spaniard also confirmed that Hakimi would be rested due to physical refreshment, continuing his trend of bold, merit‑based selections rather than defaulting to star power.

Before the match, Enrique spoke to PSG TV about the team’s path, saying that returning to the top of the Ligue 1 table was a sign of progress and that the squad remained in the early stages of the season, with plenty of work to do. He emphasized that injuries returning to the squad are a major lift, enabling greater competition for places and sharpening the club’s overall competitiveness amid a packed calendar across multiple competitions. He cautioned, however, that games against sides like Lorient can be tough when their defense sits in compact blocks and looks to strike on the counter.

In terms of immediate context, PSG’s form so far this season has featured six wins, one defeat to Olympique Marseille in the classic derby, and two draws. Victories over Nantes and Angers were followed by a 6-3 thrashing of Toulouse and 2-0 wins over Lens and Brest. Just before the international break, PSG drew at Lille and Strasbourg, before a late‑season surge helped them reclaim top spot, chasing the domestic title for a fifth straight year.

In Europe, PSG had begun their Champions League campaign with a clean four-match run: a 4-0 win over Atalanta, a 2-1 win at Montjuïc over Barcelona, and a 7-2 thumping of Bayer Leverkusen, signaling a potent start to defense of their continental crown.

Current Ligue 1 standings and the Lorient test

Heading into the tenth round, PSG sit top of Ligue 1 with around 20 points, while Lens chase closely on 19. Marseille and Lyon trail with 18, while Lille and Monaco sit at 17. Lorient occupy the mid to lower mid-table after 9 rounds, with PSG aware that the visitors will push hard to grab a result and potentially sting their ambitions for the title. The weekend lineup also included a match‑day schedule of other Ligue 1 fixtures, highlighting the breadth of the competition and the pressure on every result as the campaign unfolds.

With the international pause behind them, PSG eye a sustained run that can sustain both league and European challenges as the season progresses. The mix of youth inclusion and star talent could be a catalyst for a deeper squad identity, one that feels less about a single nucleus and more about collective strength across every position.

European and Domestic Outlook

PSG’s early European form suggests a favorable path so far, with a focus on building momentum ahead of tougher grind in the later stages of the group phase. domestically, Enrique’s approach aims to maximize rotation without sacrificing results, a delicate balance that could hinge on fitness, form, and the ability of Enganto and the other youngsters to seize opportunities when they arise.

As the players adjust to Enrique’s methods, supporters will be watching for the sustained impact of these decisions across both league and Europe, and whether the bench can truly become a hidden engine for success. If the coach’s faith in the squad continues to grow, PSG could be well placed to deliver on both fronts this season.

Punchline time: If Enrique’s lineup were a movie, the credits would still be rolling while the action is just getting started at the Lions’ Den. Second punchline: In this PSG, even the benches get more minutes than a Sunday rerun—proof that depth is wealth, and Enrique is cashing in with interest.