The pain was actually far too much for Marquinhos. Touched in the ribs during the match against Nantes last Saturday, the captain of PSG was able to hold his place in the Parisian starting lineup this Wednesday evening against Bayern Munich. Despite a little fear during the warm-up that he had to cut short, before resuming it, the Brazilian held on for 36 minutes, before being forced to give up his place. On an innocuous set piece from Bayern, Marquinhos suddenly stopped and left the lawn of the Allianz Arena.
After lying down behind Donnarumma’s goal, the PSG captain returned to the pitch, but his pain-scarred face said it all. Christophe Galtier then made the choice to replace him with Nordi Mukiele, who settled in the right axis of the defense, then leaving the left axis to Danilo. For a good half hour, the number 5 had however given satisfaction, being combative in the duels both in defense and in midfield, where he often proposed solutions when the ball was released or on the counter- pressing.
The replacement of the Brazilian international will in any case have given an indication of the hierarchy of the vice-captains of the Parisian team, since it is Kylian Mbappé who recovered from the armband after the exit of Marquinhos. Marco Verratti, who is also part of the small group of vice-captains, could however have inherited it, as was the case in Auxerre on November 13th. Marquinhos had to forfeit, and it was the little Italian who had been the captain and not Mbappé, yet the holder that day. Enough to show, once again, the rise of the world champion in the Parisian locker room.