Demanding schedule set to test Messi
The Argentine striker and PSG face one of the most decisive phases of the season, with three competitions at stake.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier decided to reste Leo Messi for the Round of 16 French Cup clash against Pays de Cassel (0-7) on Monday of this week. The coach is conscious that high profile games are coming thick and fast as the month of February could prove to be pivotal for the Ligue 1 side.
At 35 years old, Messi is a key player this season for PSG with his statistics reinforcing his claim. The Argentine has bagged 13 goals and provided 14 assists with only Kylian Mbappé and Neymar having better stats for the current campaign. Messi has started in the 21 games for PSG this season finishing 13 of them. In the eight in which he was substituted, he was never substituted before the 75th minute.
PSG face a massively demanding month of February with the return of the Champions League, the ongoing campaign in Ligue 1 along with the next rounds of the French Cup. PSG will play six games in 17 days, with high-voltage duels, such as the visit to Marseille in the round of 16 of the Cup (8 February 8) or the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Bayern Munich on 14 February at the Parc des Princes. Messi’s contribution in these games could be decisive for PSG.
In between these two games, PSG will visit Monaco in Ligue 1 on the 11th as PSG look to maintain their current three point advantage over second placed side Lens.
In the next two and a half. weeks, the Parisian giants will face Reims (29 January), Montpellier (1 February) and Toulouse (4 February) all in Ligue 1.