Surging PSG show strain as Braga come calling

They are the form team in France, but a defensive injury crisis threatens to derail Paris Saint-Germain FC as they prepare for arguably their biggest week of the season so far, starting with the visit of SC Braga in the UEFA Cup.

Healthy form
Paul Le Guen's side have taken 19 points out of a possible 21 from their last seven Ligue 1 games and sit just a point behind leaders Olympique Lyonnais. Although they have bowed out of both the League Cup and French Cup since the turn of the year, PSG breezed into the UEFA Cup Round of 16 with a 5-1 aggregate triumph over VfL Wolfsburg.

Centre-back crisis
However, Le Guen has seen his defensive reserves depleted ahead of a big four days for his team. First is the UEFA Cup game against Braga, the side that eliminated R. Standard de Liège in the last round, before a Sunday meeting with the team a place below them in Ligue 1, Olympique de Marseille. Mamadou Sakho's ankle problem means he joins fellow centre-back Grégory Bourillon on the sidelines and Sammy Traoré is set to start alongside Zoumana Camara in the heart of defence.

'Well organised'
While PSG are short at the back, Stéphane Sessegnon, who is suspended for the Marseille game, is likely to start and Claude Makelele is also available. According to Le Guen, his side may need all the help they can get as they attempt to build up a first-leg advantage against Portuguese side Braga. "We have watched footage of all their European games and some league games as well," said Le Guen. "They knocked out Standard. They are a well-organised team with good technical players; their progress has not been a surprise. "

Luís Aguiar fit
Braga, meanwhile, have their own injury worries ahead of the meeting at Parc de Princes. Moisés, Paulo Jorge, Tiago and Albert Meyong are all out, but one player who has responded to treatment is Luís Aguiar, the team's UEFA Cup top scorer with six goals. He will be available after going off at half-time during the weekend draw at CF Estrela da Amadora, while former Portuguese international Frechaut has recovered from a back problem sustained last month. "We will try to win, but if we can't, we will try and at least take a good result home against a team who are favourites," said coach Jorge Jesus, whose side are the final outright winners of the UEFA Intertoto Cup after getting further in the UEFA Cup than any of their ten fellow victors of the summer competition.