MOROCCO AND PSG AWAIT HAKIMI NEWS AHEAD OF AFRICA CUP

PSG's Achraf Hakimi suffered a severe ankle injury and faces a 6-8 week lay-off. Coach Walid Regragui confirms the "leader" will be in the squad, but can Hakimi beat the clock to play in Morocco's home tournament opener?

Morocco and PSG await Hakimi news ahead of Africa Cup
Achraf Hakimi injury update - COURTESY/PHOTO

According to Foot Mercato, 27-year-old Achraf Hakimi has set the lofty goal of being well enough to play against Comoros on December 21. 

The team confirmed that the Paris Saint-Germain defender sustained a serious ankle sprain during Tuesday's loss to Bayern Munich. Although a fracture was prevented, an internal ligament injury has occurred. Although RMC Sport is aware that Hakimi would need at least six weeks and possibly two months to recuperate, the defender is eager to play in the opening match because the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is being held in his home nation. 

Foot Mercato knows that this is the goal Hakimi has set for himself. Walid Regragui has addressed Hakimi's predicament, although the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan defender will not be playing during the forthcoming international break. 

"We will exert every effort to ensure that he is fully prepared to face the Comoros. And he will be there even if he is unable to play. He is the leader and our greatest player," the Morocco boss declared on Friday. The PSG player will undoubtedly be a member of Morocco's squad, but it is now a race against time for him to be healthy enough to contribute to the competition. 

PSG BENEFITS FROM FRIDAY FIXTURE AS LIVERPOOL RECOVERS FROM SATURDAY’S HIGH-INTENSITY CLASH

PSG beats Toulouse 3-1 as Ousmane Dembele scores twice. See why Luis Enrique is confident facing Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

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PSG cruise to 3-1 win over Toulouse; eyes set on Liverpool quarter-final - Photo Creator: Benoit Tessier

Liverpool’s got no time to catch its breath after losing to Manchester City on Saturday. Now comes the real test: Arne Slot’s team has to face the defending European champs next.

Honestly, after that 4-0 thumping at the Etihad, hope among Liverpool fans is pretty thin. The Champions League feels like the only shot at any kind of glory this season, but even that seems far-fetched right now. They’re heading to France to play PSG in the first leg of the quarter-final, and Luis Enrique’s squad had a way easier time this weekend.

While Liverpool struggled big time against Haaland and his crew, PSG cruised to a 3-1 win over Toulouse. Ousmane Dembele showed why he’s a Ballon d’Or winner; he scored two goals, one before and one after Toulouse’s strike. Then Goncalo Ramos sealed the deal in stoppage time.

PSG got to play on Friday, which means more rest and prep for the big Champions League clash. Enrique rotated his squad, resting three important players: Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and Joao Neves started on the bench but got minutes later. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia left just before the 70th minute, and Desire Doue was subbed out near the end.

Dembele and Achraf Hakimi, who hit their 200th club appearance, played the whole match. PSG really benefitted from Lens losing 3-0 to Lille too, solidifying their spot at the top.

Enrique seemed pretty pleased after the win. He said grabbing those points was crucial, especially after the international break. Lots of players came back tired, but PSG handled it. Playing on Friday made things harder, but now they’ve got some downtime before facing Liverpool.

Still, PSG’s victory wasn’t flawless. Matvei Safonov, their keeper, fumbled a cross that led to Toulouse’s goal. So now there’s talk about whether he should keep his place against Liverpool or if Lucas Chevalier gets the nod.

PSG heads into Wednesday’s showdown full of confidence. Liverpool, honestly, needs something special to turn things around.

PSG’S REQUEST FOR A WEEK OFF BETWEEN LIVERPOOL GAMES SPARKS DOMESTIC OUTRAGE

Paris Saint-Germain requests a Ligue 1 postponement against Lens to prepare for their Champions League tie with Liverpool.

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PSG Demand Lens Match Postponement To Prepare For Champions League Liverpool

Paris Saint-Germain is sticking to its request to postpone a Ligue 1 match so it can get ready for its big Champions League clash with Liverpool.

People have been poking fun at PSG for trying to move their game against Lens, another top team in the league. Lens flat-out rejected the idea. PSG pulled off something similar when they played Chelsea in Europe, and now they want another week off between their matches with Liverpool.

Right now, that Lens match falls right between the two Liverpool games. French media says the league will decide after the LFP board meets this Thursday.

Even with the criticism, PSG claims this isn’t just about them; it’s for the good of French football.

Le Parisien reports PSG’s message: they say their push to reschedule is organised, above board, and doesn’t undermine the competition. One club insider put it like this: Every French team in European competitions lifts the entire league. France is sitting in sixth place in the race for UEFA’s 2025-26 season, and getting to fifth would mean more French clubs in Europe – up to seven of them.

It’s not just pride that’s on the line; there’s cash and exposure, too. If two French teams make the European semi-finals, Ligue 1 gets a boost on and off the field.

PSG also pointed out that the league has moved matches for this exact reason plenty of times before, especially to help French clubs in Europe.

Lens, meanwhile, isn’t hiding how they feel. They released a statement making their opposition clear.

They said the whole thing makes it feel like Ligue 1 is just an afterthought, ready to change at a moment’s notice to suit European ambitions. They argue this simply isn’t fair, which, in their eyes, sets French football apart from other major leagues.

Lens says moving the game would mean they go fifteen days without playing, then suddenly play every three days. That’s a totally different schedule than what was agreed on at the start of the season, and it’s a load that could really mess with a club like theirs.

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