Messi fit to face Lens as PSG aim to wrap up Ligue 1

Barring any last-minute setbacks, Leo Messi should be fit to make Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG squad for the Ligue 1 match against Lens at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, where the home side have the chance to wrap up the title and apply some gloss to what has been an otherwise disappointing season in Paris. Having signed Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Danilo Pereira and Giorginio Wijnaldum last summer, the expectation was the club would take the final step to the Champions League title having reached the final two years ago, but the Ligue 1 giants fell to Real Madrid in the last 16.

Pochettino looking to land first Ligue 1 title

PSG were also knocked out of the Coupe de France at the same stage by Nice and suffered defeat at the hands of Lille in the Trophée des Champions. While the Ligue 1 title is the least Pochettino will have been expected to ensure in his first full season having missed out to Lille last year after replacing Thomas Tuchel, there have been rumblings of discontent all season among fans, players and the board that the domestic title will at least go some way to subduing.

Messi, too, has struggled to adapt to life at the Parc des Princes by his own astronomical standards. The Argentina captain has been hampered by injuries and has managed just eight goals in 29 appearances this season. Ramos has also barely featured during the 2021-22 campaign but has garnered praise for his recent performances after shaking off a persistent calf issue and the former Real Madrid defender should also be on the pitch on Saturday.

Messi has been carrying an Achilles tendon inflammation but trained normally at PSG’s Camps des Loges complex on Friday having missed the midweek match against Angers.

If PSG beat Lens on Saturday, they will become only the second club in Ligue 1 history to win the title on 10 occasions, behind Saint-Étienne.