Paris: With Neymar and Kylian Mbappe finally both fit and playing in the same team, the pressure is on Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel to get his all-star attack firing on all cylinders going into the second half of the season.

Injuries and off-field issues had prevented the two most expensive players on the planet from starting a game together this season until PSG’s 2-0 midweek over Nantes which kept the reigning champions five points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Both players duly scored, with Mbappe’s backheel opener being followed by a Neymar penalty, but PSG were sluggish, and not for the first time in recent weeks. In fact, the capital side — who go to Montpellier on Saturday — have not impressed since beating Marseille 4-0 at the end of October.

“Maybe it’s just in our heads — because we are afraid of losing the ball, we end up losing the ball,” admitted Tuchel.

In the meantime PSG are winning games. They are top of Ligue 1 and have won their Champions League group before next week’s final game at home to Galatasaray.

However, they have often been reliant on goalkeeper Keylor Navas in recent weeks and Tuchel needs to find the right blend in attack.

Beyond Mbappe and Neymar, the excellent Angel Di Maria perhaps deserves a rest, while Mauro Icardi could return to the line-up this weekend.

Meanwhile, Edinson Cavani continues to be left with the crumbs. On Wednesday he got four minutes off the bench. The Uruguayan has not started a game since August.

“The situation is super difficult for him, I know.” “It is not just hard, it’s sad. Icardi has been very good and we have three extraordinary players for one position in Kylian, Mauro and Edinson. I don’t have the solution,” Tuchel said.

Agence France-Presse


French League fixtures (all kick-offs GMT)

Saturday: Montpellier va Paris Saint-Germain (1630), Monaco va Amiens, Nice v Metz, Rennes va Angers, Strasbourg va Toulouse (all 1900)
Sunday: Reims vs Saint-Etienne (1400), Nantes vs Dijon (1600), Marseille vs Bordeaux (2000)