Can Lee Kang-in (23, Paris Saint-Germain) topple the ‘Spanish giants’?
PSG will face Barcelona in the first leg of their 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarterfinal first leg at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France, on Nov. 11 at 4 a.m. ET.
It will be three years since the two teams last met in the round of 16 of the 2020-2021 season. Back then, PSG won the first leg 4-1 with Kylian Mbappe scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Lee Kang-in is expected to start.
He came on as a 22nd-minute substitute against Clermont in the previous game. In France, this is being interpreted as a rotation for the Barcelona game. Luis Enrique started Carlos Soler, Marco Asensio, Seni Maulu and other non-starters against Barcelona.
“Enrique rested several players last weekend, 안전놀이터 추천 including Warren Zairemery,” Le Parisien said, predicting a frontline of Lee, Mbappe, and Ousmane Dembele. Lee is expected to play on the left wing.
“There are three very different types of players competing for the position – Lee, Gonzalo Hamus and Kolo Moani. It’s hard to say at this point who will win the starting spot. But Enrique and the coaching staff value Lee Kang-in more highly, and he can help Dembele up front against Barcelona, just as he did against Rennes in the Coupe de France.”
Le Parisien is not alone. L’Equipe, Canal Supporters, Foot Mercato, and others have also tipped Lee to start. While there was some disagreement over the likes of Lucas Veraldo and Zair Emery, Lee’s name was never absent.
However, the positional expectations were slightly different.
L’Equipe and Foot Mercato suggested that Jair Emery could play at right fullback and Lee could play in the right midfield. PSG will be without Ashraf Hakimi due to accumulated cautions. Enrique is expected to replace him with either Marquinhos or Xhair Emery.
Foot Mercato says: “Vitinha, who was rested against Clermont, could link up with Fabian Luis, who is favored over Manuel Ugarte. If Zaire Emery starts at fullback, either Ugarte or the more technically gifted Lee Kang-in could be a possible alternative.”
UEFA had expected to see Lee alone on the bench. Instead, they predicted that Bradley Barcola would be Enrique’s choice. However, most French media outlets claimed that he would be used as a substitute as he had just returned from a hamstring injury.
Lee has been in good form in the UCL this season.
He scored his PSG debut goal against AC Milan last year and added an assist against Real Sociedad last month. As a result, his playing time has been steadily increasing.
This game against Barcelona could be a great opportunity for him to cement his place in the starting lineup. Lee has been fighting for a starting spot at PSG recently. After the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, he was a bit shaky. 무료 슬롯 French journalist Daniel Riolo of RMC Sport even claimed that Lee doesn’t deserve a starting spot and that Asensio should be used.
Lee could silence his critics if he shows his true colors against Barcelona, a team he faced many times during his time in Mallorca. He has been training with his teammates and smiling brightly ahead of the clash with Barcelona.
PSG, meanwhile, are unbeaten in 27 official matches since their defeat to Milan last November. All that remains is to win the UCL, a longtime dream. Enrique says: “We know that in the UCL we face teams of high quality. We have to prove that we have improved on the pitch,” Enrique said. Mbappe added: “It’s time for great players. I am ready. I won’t hide like I always do.”