As expected, Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi (35 years old, 3 games and 2 goals in the Champions League this season) must forfeit the reception of Benfica Lisbon tomorrow evening (9 p.m.) at the Parc des Princes at the occasion of the 4th day of the group stage of the Champions League.
The announcement was made official by the Parisian club: the Argentine star of PSG Lionel Messi is forfeited for the Champions League match against Benfica Lisbon on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.
Messi, injured in the calf during PSG’s trip to Benfica’s lawn in C1 last Wednesday (1-1) and replaced in the 81st minute, had not played the league match in Reims (0-0) on Saturday. Coach Christophe Galtier said after the match in Lisbon that “the Pulga”, very much in demand since the start of the season by PSG, was “tired”.
A busy schedule
This unavailability falls badly when the champion of France will live a busy week with the meeting against Benfica followed by the classic of the L1 against Marseille, Sunday at the Parc des Princes.
Faced with an overloaded calendar with matches every three days until the World Cup (November 20-December 18 in Qatar), Paris sees its infirmary busy with the injuries of defenders Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes and midfielder Renato Sanches .
The Spanish defender Sergio Ramos will for his part be suspended for the arrival of OM after the red card received on Saturday in Reims.