COVID-19 returns to French league and PSG will be led by Argentine trident

Havana, December 22 (RHC)-- French soccer's Ligue1 will celebrate today its 19th matchday, the last of the year, with Bordeaux affected by five cases of COVID-19 and leaders PSG will be led by the Argentine trident Messi-Icardi-Di Maria.

After a pandemic-stricken start to the 2021-2022 season, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is back in action, and according to Bordeaux technical director Vladimir Petkovic, players Gregersen, Mara, Sissokho, Oudin and Bakwa tested positive and will not be on the pitch for the visit of Lille.

The country is experiencing the fifth wave of Covid-19 infections and a growing presence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which opens the possibility of new cases and even the suspension of matches in January, when the dreaded mutation is expected to become dominant.

Petkovic said the club is taking measures to prevent further infections, including PCR tests and the suspension of collective meals.

Meanwhile, PSG's Argentine coach, Mauricio Pochettino, said the Rouge et Bleu will be without Kylian Mbappé and Marco Verratti today in Brittany against Lorient due to yellow card accumulation, in addition to the absence of the injured Neymar.

In that sense, their teammates Messi, Icardi and Di Maria will have the responsibility of leading the offense of the comfortable leader of the Ligue, with 45 points, 13 ahead of Olympique de Marseille and 14 ahead of Rennes.

Mbappé has two braces in his last three games for PSG, in the Coupe de France, Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and will close 2021 with 43 goals in all competitions.