After an underwhelming display in the first leg last Wednesday, Nuno Mendes should be on the pitch at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday. Once again, PSG need to turn things round, and the Portuguese left-back could play an important role in that.
In the previous match, Mendes didn’t have a significant impact on PSG’s attack against Borussia Dortmund. Although the 0-1 defeat wasn’t entirely his fault, given his abilities, it’s hard not to imagine that he could have contributed more to a positive result.
Now, with Lucas Hernández absent through injury, there is no alternative but for Mendes to raise his individual performance. However, it’s important to recognise that he’s not known for his defensive skills and is more inclined to play on the wing than at full-back.
When Mendes isn’t burdened with defensive responsibilities, he proves to be an excellent player, as evidenced last season. However, this season has brought changes, with Luis Enrique having to deal with his absence until February and opting for a different formation.
However, against Dortmund, Luis Enrique’s playing strategy was hampered by Mendes’ unfamiliarity with the new formation. On several occasions, he lost the ball or failed to connect passes, resulting in a less effective contribution.
In an attacking team like PSG, it’s challenging to maintain balance, especially in transition plays. Mendes was designated as the safe outlet, but his defensive limitations may have exposed the team even more to opposition transitions.
Now, with the return leg at the Parc des Princes, Mendes will need to show composure and seize opportunities to get forward when possible. However, he must be aware of his defensive limitations and focus on raising his own performance to help the team advance to the final.
