PSG have 11 absences ahead of Lyon clash including Messi

Paris Saint-Germain are set to face Lyon on Sunday evening, yet the Ligue 1 leaders are facing the prospect of missing 11 players for that match.

Mauricio Pochettino is having to work around an absence list which has eight players injured or ill and three on international duty at the African Cup of Nations.

Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler, Danilo Pereira, Layvin Kurzawa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Lionel Messi, Alexandre Letellier and Neymar are all out injured.

The only senior stars who are in the elite bracket who are available are Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos.

Meanwhile, Achraf Hakimi, Abou Diallo and Idrissa Gueye are in Cameroon representing Morocco and Senegal respectively.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino acknowledges that PSG must adapt in the absence of players, but insists that every team is in the same boat.

During his pre-match press conference, he said: "All teams have absent players; so do we. We have to adapt to everyday life. Sometimes, we have to change our plans.

"It's the same every game, we always have to make choices. We have to put the players in the best conditions."

Lyon one of the best

On the prospect of facing Peter Bosz's Lyon side, he added: "They are one of the best teams in France. 

"There is a very great coach. In the end, they will be fighting for the first places.

"It will be difficult, but we are optimistic."