Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan right-back at Paris Saint-Germain, is tipped to start on Saturday 17 October at the Meinau, where PSG travel before a Champions League clash with FC Barcelona.
Head coach Luis Enrique faced the media this Friday 16 October 2026, on the eve of the trip to Strasbourg for matchday 7 of Ligue 1. Kick-off is set for Saturday at 17:15. On the right side of the Parisian defence, Achraf Hakimi’s name keeps coming up: the Moroccan right-back is tipped to start at the Meinau, according to VIPSG, an indication that remains conditional given the coach’s plans to rotate his squad.
The trip to Alsace precedes the visit of FC Barcelona in the Champions League, on Tuesday 20 October at the Parc des Princes. PSG go into it on the back of a 4-2 win over Manchester City on Wednesday evening, and Hakimi’s starting spot has not been confirmed by the club.
A warning from Luis Enrique
The Parisian coach made no secret of his intention to rotate his squad before the European tie, without underestimating the opposition. “Strasbourg have a lot of quality players. They will surely have a special motivation against us,” he said, quoted by AfricaFootUnited.
According to the same source, Luis Enrique intends to manage the rotation before hosting Barça on Tuesday. For Hakimi, whose start remains expected but unconfirmed, that approach leaves the make-up of the right flank open until kick-off.
A lighter medical update for PSG
The Parisian club released its official medical update this Friday, confirming the return of midfielder Senny Mayulu to collective training after his thigh injury, reports AllezParis. The report does not specify whether he is in the squad for the trip to Alsace.
Still according to AllezParis, PSG are only without their third-choice goalkeeper Alessandro Longoni, who is in the individual recovery phase.
On the other side, Strasbourg, coached by Hugo Oliveira, will have to do without their captain Ismaël Doukouré, according to Top Mercato.
Hakimi, the most valuable African player in Ligue 1
Achraf Hakimi remains the most valuable African player in the French top flight, with a valuation estimated at 80 million euros, according to Afrik-Foot.
PSG go into this trip after their 4-2 win over Manchester City in the Champions League. According to Sport News Africa, the club sit top of the Champions League with 6 points and a goal difference of +7. In Ligue 1, they have 11 points from 6 matches played before this matchday 7, according to Top Mercato.
Recent history favours the Parisians: in their last 8 meetings in Ligue 1, Paris SG have 5 wins, against just one for the Alsatians and 2 draws, according to Flashscore.