Who is playing for PSG vs. Montpellier on Wednesday, Feb. 1?

The schedule gives no breaks to PSG as they get into the most crucial time of the season in February. For starters, a trip to Montpellier for the 21st gameday of the Ligue 1 campaign on Wednesday, Feb. 1. From last Sunday to Wednesday, Feb. 14, PSG will play six games in just 16 days. Sheesh...

Having dropped points once again in the league after last-second 1-1 draw against Reims, coach Christophe Galtier will have to make the most of what he has available. For the game against Montpellier, that means he won't be able to count on any of Marco Verratti (suspension), Presnel Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes (injured), and Neymar (rest).

With such a short turnaround between the transfer window ending (on Tuesday) and the game against Montpellier, it was never going to be possible for any reinforcement to play in the Ligue 1 MD21 had they arrived or not, anyway.

PSG will keep marching to their usual beat, only making room for a few newcomers just because of the absences (mainly) of Verrattii and Neymar across the pitch.

Gigio Donnarumma will man the goalposts like he's done all season long. He will be joined on the back-end of the lineup by the usual suspects, which also happen to be the only viable and available players for Galtier at this moment considering Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes have been ruled out of the game.

That means Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos will be the center backs, along with Juan Bernat to their left and Achraf Hakimi to their right flank respectively. Danilo would have been the preferred option over Ramos, but with Verratti out suspended that will have to wait for now.

Danilo is expected to start in the deepest of the midfield roles used by Galtier on a holding position in front of the defense. Vitinha and (sadly) Fabian Ruiz should be the other two midfielders on PSG's side against Montpellier, although that might change (Carlos Soler, Warren Zaire-Emery,...) depending on how risky Galtier wants to get.

With Neymar ruled out of Wednesday's game, there might be change in shape with Kylian Mbappe dropping a bit deeper to the left side of the pitch and Lionel Messi marauding the mid-right part of it, making way for youngster Hugo Ekitike up front leading the team forward.

PSG will not have Keylor Navas available on the bench after the goalie joined Nottingham Forest of the English Premier League on deadline day, going away on loan until the end of the season. Sergio Rico will be the backup goalkeeper for the remainder of the year.