PARIS, Aug 14, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday omitted
superstars Neymar and Lionel Messi from their squad for the Ligue 1 meeting
with Strasbourg in the evening.

  For the second game of the season, coach Mauricio Pochettino has again not
selected any of the players who returned to the club late from the Euros or
the Copa America.

  Messi, who played in the South American final against Neymar and Brazil,
only signed for PSG on Tuesday.

  The 34-year-old Messi didn't start training with his new teammates until
Thursday.

  Pochettino said the coaching staff would be taking it "step by step" with
the Argentine striker so that he "is in the best possible condition when he
starts."

  "It was a great opportunity to see him in action," said Pochettino.

  Also still out of the squad are Brazilian Marquinhos, Argentines Angel Di
Maria and Leandro Paredes, who all started the Copa final on July 10, and
Italians Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marco Verratti, who started in the Euro
final victory over England the next day.

  They are continuing the physical preparation they began when they returned
to the training centre on August 6.

  Another big name summer signing Sergio Ramos is injured and not expected to
make his debut until after the international break in early September.

  Messi will still be the star attraction at a gala evening being prepared
for PSG's first home league game of the season when Parc des Princes will be
full for the first time in more than 17 months.

  Messi, like the other new signings from a busy summer at PSG, will be
presented to the public before kick off.

  Kylian Mbappe, who was part of the France team that went out of the Euros
to Switzerland in the round of 16 and who played in the opening week win at
Troyes, is in the squad.

  Pochettino could field the same starting XI which won at Troyes last
Saturday.