PSG without Navas against Saint-Etienne | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain will be without first-choice goalkeeper Keylor Navas for Sunday’s vital Ligue 1 Uber Eats clash with AS Saint-Etienne.

The Costa Rica star has been ruled out by his club due to a shoulder problem, meaning Sergio Rico should start the match at the Parc des Princes. The Spaniard has already appeared nine times in the league this season, including in last weekend’s 4-1 win at RC Strasbourg Alsace when he replaced Navas at half-time.

Paris coach Mauricio Pochettino is already without Neymar Jr., with the Brazilian completing a two-match domestic ban. Leandro Paredes and Idrissa Gana Gueye are also banned, while Abdou Diallo is missing with a calf problem after coming off against Bayern Munich in midweek. Marquinhos and Juan Bernat are still missing too.

PSG know a win will see them close the gap on leaders LOSC to a single point after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Montpellier Hérault SC on Friday evening.

“Despite the absences, we need to be optimistic and positive,” Pochettino told reporters on Saturday. “The situation was the same when we arrived in January, when we had a dozen players out injured. The circumstances are difficult but we have to have confidence in the squad. The important thing is that all the players feel they need to be ready to play when required.”

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