The loss of Achraf Hakimi hits PSG hard before the second leg against FC Bayern and highlights the important full-back position.
The news brought dark clouds over the ideal world of Paris Saint-Germain last Wednesday: Achraf Hakimi will be out for several weeks and will be missing from the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against FC Bayern Munich after he was injured in the final minutes of the 5:4 spectacle in the first leg had injured.
Hakimi’s loss “a big blow” for PSG
The headline of the French L’Equipe probably reflects the depth of worry lines among PSG coach Luis Enrique given the absence of the right-back. “Hakimi – a big blow, but there are solutions,” wrote the specialist media and hit the nail on the head.
Because the Moroccan’s failure is actually exactly that. A heavy blow for the Parisians. In Enrique’s 4-3-3 system, in which the players work aggressively against the ball and immediately switch after winning the ball, the full-backs have a special role.
Hakimi as Key players on the right PSG side
Extreme discipline is required from Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, his counterpart on the left. In defensive phases, the duo pushes up instead of protecting the central defenders as part of the back four. The goal: to form the second pressing wave after the offensive trio around Ousmane Dembele.
This creates an extreme danger of scoring if PSG develops the ball, but is also associated with great risks as it opens up space for opponents if they manage to evade forechecking. Hakimi can correct mistakes with his speed. If he affords it once. After all, the 27-year-old is one of the best full-backs in the world.
Zaire-Emery as Hakimi replacement against Bayern?
Although he had problems with it the toxic Luis Díaz, who repeatedly caused chaos in the PSG defense with deep runs. But at least he was able to limit the Colombian to some extent, even if he was rewarded with a goal to make it 4-5 in the 68th minute.
He will not be playing in the second leg. Instead, the versatile Warren Zaire-Emery should replace him in the starting line-up. The Frenchman represented Hakimi in the first half of the season when he was suffering from a sprained ankle following a foul by Díaz in the league phase duel between Bayern and PSG, but at 20 years old he is not what one would describe as experienced.
Hakimi injury with consequences for winger Doué?
It is at least questionable whether he can single-handedly get Díaz under control as an opponent. Depending on how the game goes, winger Desire Doué could also be given additional defensive duties, which could be at the expense of the Paris attack.
Rosy prospects for a Bayern team that has to make up for a one-goal deficit in Munich on Wednesday? Only to a limited extent. Because while Díaz and Michael Olise were spinning up front, the FCB defense was having a hard time with Dembélé, Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who each collected two scorer points apiece.
Bayern outside with big problems against PSG offensive
An example was the 1-1 by Kvaratskhelia, who ran past Josip Stanisic in the 24th minute, did a little dance with the Munich player and slammed the ball into the goal.
On the other side of the defense, Alphonso Davies and later Konrad Laimer also had extremely difficult times against Hakimi and Doué, such as at 2:4, when Laimer was caught cold by a pass to Hakimi while moving forward, so that the PSG man was able to cross unchallenged and found Kvaratskhelia for his second goal.
Bayern defense with Speed disadvantages
The vulnerability of the Bavarian wings was also due to the fact that FCB coach Vincent Kompany, like Enrique, does not use his full-backs solely for protection. Instead, the rail players push inside or fill the spaces that arise when Diaz and Olise drop back or look for their way into the center.
However, compared to Hakimi and Mendes, Stanisic and Laimer have a speed disadvantage, while Davies is not yet his old self after his last calendar year, which was marked by injuries. The deficits offer opportunities for the lightning-fast PSG offensive.
When the game kicks off in Munich on Wednesday evening, the main focus will be on which of the two teams can best exploit the duels on the outside. The game of chess on the wings can begin.
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Source: BR24 Radio May 6, 2026 – 8:54 a.m
