Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are set to clash in a pre-season friendly, offering fans a glimpse of what’s to come in the new season. While pre-season lineups are always subject to change and experimentation, we can make some informed predictions based on recent matches, transfer activity, and manager preferences.
PSG Projected Lineup
New PSG manager Luis Enrique is expected to implement his preferred attacking style, potentially featuring a 4-3-3 formation. However, with Neymar’s future uncertain and Kylian Mbappé potentially on the sidelines due to transfer saga, the attack could look quite different.
- Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma is the undisputed number one.
- Defense: The back four could see Achraf Hakimi at right-back, and Presnel Kimpembe partnering with Milan Škriniar, who joined from Inter, in central defense. Nuno Mendes is currently injured, Lucas Hernandez is likely to be deployed on the left.
- Midfield: The midfield is anticipated to feature Vitinha, Manuel Ugarte, and one of Warren Zaïre-Emery or Marco Verratti depending on the Italian international’s fitness and potential transfer.
- Attack: Without Mbappé, the attacking trident may include Marco Asensio, Hugo Ekitike, and perhaps a youngster or another new signing filling the left-wing position. Recent reports suggest a formation experimenting with several creative midfielders behind a single striker.
Key absentees and question marks around star players make predicting PSG’s exact lineup a challenge. Enrique will likely use the game to assess different combinations and evaluate new signings.
Inter Milan Projected Lineup
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan is likely to stick with their familiar 3-5-2 formation that brought them success last season, including a Champions League final appearance. The squad is undergoing some changes, however, with key departures and new arrivals.
- Goalkeeper: Yann Sommer, signed as a replacement for Andre Onana, is expected to start in goal.
- Defense: The three-man defense will likely consist of Matteo Darmian, Stefan de Vrij, and Alessandro Bastoni.
- Midfield: The midfield five might feature Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco as wing-backs. Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoğlu are almost guaranteed starters in the center of the pitch, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan potentially completing the trio.
- Attack: Up front, Lautaro Martinez, will likely partner with Marcus Thuram, newly acquired to fill the void left by Edin Džeko.
Inter has also seen changes in their squad, but Inzaghi will be looking to maintain the tactical structure that served them well. The pre-season friendly against PSG will be an important test to integrate new players and fine-tune their system.
Overall
Both teams are entering a new phase. PSG is adapting to a new coach and potentially facing significant changes in their squad. Inter Milan are looking to build on last season’s success while integrating new signings. The match provides an opportunity for both managers to experiment and assess their options before the start of their respective league campaigns. Expect substitutions and tactical adjustments throughout the game as they search for the optimal formula for the season ahead.