The Paris Saint-Germain are racing against time to ensure two of their most pivotal performers are fit for the Champions League final clash with Arsenal. Luis Enrique’s squad is closely monitoring the recovery progress of Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembélé as the countdown to the Budapest showdown intensifies.
the stakes couldn’t be higher for the french champions
Fresh from securing another Ligue 1 title, PSG are now focused on defending their European crown at the Puskas Arena. However, their preparations are overshadowed by uncertainty over the availability of key personnel. While Arsenal arrive in Hungary with renewed confidence after ending their 22-year Premier League drought under Mikel Arteta, the French side faces the possibility of lining out without critical first-team players.
hakimi’s thigh strain casts doubt over his participation
The Moroccan international, a constant attacking threat from right-back, picked up a thigh injury during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich just under a month ago. Medical assessments suggest he will not be fully fit to start the final, dealing a significant blow to Enrique’s tactical plans. Hakimi’s return to full training is not expected until Wednesday, leaving him with barely three days to prove his fitness before the squad’s departure for Budapest.
dembélé’s absence raises further concerns about the parisian attack
PSG recently organised an internal friendly match to maintain match fitness, but Ousmane Dembélé was notably absent. The French winger has been dealing with a knock since being substituted early in a recent league defeat to Paris FC. While the player himself has expressed confidence about his readiness for the final, his absence from the internal fixture suggests the medical team is erring on the side of caution. With the clock ticking down to Saturday evening, every minute of preparation counts.
arsenal see an opportunity in the uncertainty
The potential absences of Hakimi and Dembélé could shift the balance of power entirely. Arsenal’s technical staff are already viewing this as a potential advantage they will seek to exploit should PSG lack rhythm or cohesion. All eyes will be on Tuesday’s high-intensity training session in Paris—a crucial test for Enrique to determine whether his two stars can feature in what promises to be a historic battle against the newly crowned English champions.
