Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed that Gianluigi Donnarumma (25) will miss Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League encounter against Girona. The club confirmed that the Italian goalkeeper suffered a minor injury to his right hamstring in Saturday evening’s 3-1 victory over Stade Brestois.
Whilst it is not thought to be a serious injury, it could be a consequential one, as it opens the door for Matvey Safonov (25) to stake his claim to be No.1 at PSG. It was reported over the summer that the Russian goalkeeper’s arrival at the Parc des Princes threatened Donnarumma’s position as a guaranteed starter.
Unconvinced by Donnarumma in the big Champions League encounters, Luis Enrique was happy to scrap the established hierarchy and let the three goalkeepers: the aforementioned duo of Donnarumma and Safonov, but also Arnau Tenas, scrap it out. It is the Italian who has started PSG’s first four games of the season, but his injury now gives his Russian understudy the chance to apply pressure.
As he stated in the wake of his arrival, Safonov did not arrive at PSG to be a No.2, and he struck a determined tone when talking about claiming the No.1 jersey from Donnarumma. Luís Campos (PSG’s sporting director) never said that I was No.2. I don’t see myself as a No.2,” began the Russia international.
He added, “I don’t want to be a substitute. If they make me a No.2, things won’t be easy for the No.1 […] I have never lost a competition. I have always been the No.1 goalkeeper […] Maybe they don’t have the intention of making me No.1 straight away, but I believe I will [become that].”
With Donnarumma out against Girona, the expectation is that Safonov will start. He will get an early chance, perhaps earlier than expected, to ramp up the pressure on his teammate and get Luis Enrique to rethink the established order.
