PSG Receive Major Double Injury Boost Ahead of Champions League Final Against Arsenal

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has received a significant boost ahead of the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal after both Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi were included in the squad for Saturday’s showdown in Budapest.

The two players had been major injury concerns heading into the final at the Puskás Aréna in Hungary, with their availability in serious doubt during the build-up to the decisive fixture.

Hakimi, who scored in last season’s Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during PSG’s dramatic 5-4 semi-final first-leg win over Bayern Munich on 28 April.

Dembélé, meanwhile, was forced off during PSG’s Ligue 1 defeat to Paris FC on the final day of the domestic season and subsequently missed training sessions in the final weeks leading up to the European final.

However, in a major double boost for the defending champions, both players have now been included in the travelling squad and are expected to be available for selection in the matchday squad against Arsenal.

Strong Continuity for PSG Squad

PSG have named a largely familiar group for the final, with ten players from last season’s Champions League final victory also included in the squad for this year’s showdown.

The only expected change to the starting XI is in goal, where Matvey Safonov is set to start ahead of Lucas Chevalier, despite the latter being signed last summer as a long-term replacement for Gianluigi Donnarumma, who departed for Manchester City.

At the back, Nuno Mendes and Lucas Hernández are expected to return after missing recent matches, while Willian Pacho is also likely to be available again following his absence since the second leg of the semi-final against Bayern Munich. The defensive line is expected to be completed by captain Marquinhos and the fit-again Hakimi.

PSG Squad for Champions League Final

Goalkeepers: Chevalier, Safonov, Renato Marin

Defenders: Hakimi, Beraldo, Marquinhos, Zabarnyi, Lucas Hernández, Nuno Mendes, Pacho

Midfielders: Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha, Senny Mayulu, Warren Zaïre-Emery, João Neves, Désiré Doué

Forwards: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Gonçalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembélé, Kang-in Lee, Bradley Barcola, Mahamadou Ndjantou, Ibrahim Mbaye