Tuesday’s Champions League injury round-up: Big blows for PSG, Roma and Porto

Ahead of the return of the Champions League on Tuesday night, three of the four teams in action have been dealt significant injury blows for their respective matches, starting with PSG’s trip to Manchester United.

Manchester United vs Paris Saint Germain

Manchester United will be without right-backs Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian for the visit of PSG, though neither would have featured had they been fit for Tuesday’s night’s clash anyway. The only first team regular that could miss out is Victor Lindelof, though the Sweden international trained on Monday having been rested at the weekend and should be fit enough to start.

The visitors, meanwhile, have three big holes to fill in their usual starting XI, with right-back Thomas Meunier and striker Edinson Cavani picking up injuries at the weekend and joining Neymar on the sidelines. The absence of the former is likely to mean Thilo Kehrer starts at the back, while Thomas Tuchel is expected to field Dani Alves in an advanced position on the right to offer protection to the young German.

Kylian Mbappe is the only fit forward and is sure to lead the line, with Julian Draxler potentially pushed forward in support of the youngster. The absence of Neymar is undoubtedly the biggest blow, with PSG dropping points to the likes of Strasbourg and Lyon of late without the Brazilian.

Roma vs Porto

The hosts will be without as many as five players for the visit of the Portuguese champions, with Patrik Schick the latest to join the treatment room in Rome. He’s alongside long-term absentee Diego Perotti, as well as centre-back Juan Jesus and, crucially, first choice keeper Robin Olsen, with veteran stopper Antonio Mirante set to deputise.

Elsewhere winger Cengiz Under has missed the club’s last four matches and is in a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury having netted three times in the group stages. Roma have won just three of the eight league matches the Turkish international hasn’t started this season, with fellow youngster Justin Kluivert in line to take his place.

As far as Porto are concerned, Jesus Manuel Corona is suspended for the trip to Italy, while first choice strikers Vincent Aboubakar and Moussa Marega are both sidelined. As a result Fernando and Tiquinho Soares are expected to start having not seen a single minute of action during the group stages.