How Paris Saint-Germain could line up against Montpellier HSC

The Italian midfielder received a straight red card for a serious foul on Reims' Junya Ito at the weekend, as PSG dropped more points in a 1-1 draw with Les Rouges et Blancs.

Verratti is joined on the absentee list by the injured Nordi Mukiele (hamstring) and Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), while Nuno Mendes missed out at the weekend with a muscular complaint and is doubtful too.

Christophe Galtier may be tempted into some changes here, but number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will not be one of them as Keylor Navas discusses a potential loan move to Nottingham Forest.

Achraf Hakimi and Juan Bernat's spots out wide are also safe with Mukiele and Mendes out, and the same can be said for Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos in the heart of the backline.

However, Galtier is blessed with options for change in midfield and will likely be tempted into a reshuffle here, given that all three of his engine room starters were substituted before the 65-minute mark against Reims.

Fabian Ruiz may hold his place in the middle, but Vitinha and Carlos Soler are both at risk of dropping out for Renato Sanches and Danilo Pereira amid the tight turnaround.

The trifecta of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar should be left untouched, with the latter scoring his 12th Ligue 1 goal of the season against Reims before Folarin Balogun struck back with seconds remaining.

PSG possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Ramos, Bernat; Ruiz, Pereira, Sanches; Messi; Mbappe, Neymar