Football
Jonathan Johnsoon 6y

PSG to rest Thiago Silva vs. Strasbourg ahead of Bayern Munich clash

PARIS -- Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva will sit out Saturday's Ligue 1 clash away at Strasbourg after coach Unai Emery opted to give him a rest.

The French capital outfit remain without Thiago Motta as he continues to recover from a knee operation, while Lucas Moura has been left out again.

With Presnel Kimpembe back from suspension, Emery opted to rest Marquinhos for Wednesday's 2-0 home win over ESTAC Troyes.

Now that the Brazil international has had a breather, it is his compatriot's turn to take one this weekend in preparation for next week's UEFA Champions League clash away at Bayern Munich.

"Thiago is a great player," Emery said of Silva in Friday's prematch news conference after his 200th outing as captain against Troyes in midweek. "He has the armband and he is important on the pitch and in the dressing room.

"Thiago is more confident than he was last season. He is handling things better out on the pitch. You have to have the ambition to do more and better no matter your age. His attitude is good. Just like the rest of the team, he is feeling good."

With Silva absent, Marquinhos should captain PSG in Strasbourg and should be joined by Kimpembe in central defence.

Elsewhere, Motta is still missing and Emery should shuffle his midfield again with Marco Verratti likely to be rested this time around after starting against Troyes.

Lucas is left out completely but Emery still has plenty of attacking options with star trio Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar present once more.

Otherwise, youth academy graduates Alec Georgen and Remy Descamps did not make the cut and Hatem Ben Arfa continues to be excluded like Lucas.

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