Paris Saint-Germain's captain, Marquinhos, is on the brink of a significant milestone. He could play his 500th match for the club against Tottenham on Wednesday. Since joining PSG from Roma in 2013, Marquinhos has
become a key player, featuring in 499 games. His contributions include 353 victories and 183 clean sheets, alongside scoring 42 goals and winning 35 trophies, including last season's Champions League.
Marquinhos was not part of the squad in PSG's recent 3-0 win over Le Havre due to fitness concerns. However, if he is deemed fit after an injury-plagued start to the season, coach Luis Enrique plans to field him against Spurs. "If Marquinhos is fit, he will play his 500th game, which is an incredible number," Enrique stated. "It's very important for him and all the players. "
PSG might also see Ousmane Dembele back in action soon. The Ballon d'Or winner has been recovering from a calf injury sustained during their 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich before the international break. Coach Luis Enrique expressed caution about Dembele's return: "We'll see tomorrow. If there is no problem, he will be among the players called up. "
The upcoming match against Tottenham marks a quick reunion for both teams following their UEFA Super Cup clash in August. In that thrilling encounter, PSG came from behind to level the score at 2-2 with late goals by Lee Kang-in and Goncalo Ramos before securing a 4-3 victory in a penalty shoot-out.
Reflecting on their previous encounter with Tottenham, Luis Enrique noted: "It was a match in special conditions. A good memory because it ended well, but a bad memory if I think back to the first 60 minutes when we were in trouble!" He emphasised that PSG is now better prepared to dominate and win matches.
Currently holding nine points from four games, PSG sits fifth in the Champions League standings among 36 teams. Tottenham trails slightly behind with eight points in tenth place but remains one of five unbeaten teams so far.
The anticipation surrounding Marquinhos' potential milestone appearance highlights his importance to PSG. As they prepare for another challenging match against Spurs, both teams aim to maintain their strong performances in this season's competition.
