Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss Paris St Germain’s Ligue 1 season opener at Lille on Friday because of a knee injury.

PSG said on their website yesterday that the Sweden striker picked up the injury during the team’s 2-0 win against Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions’ Trophy last Saturday.

“Further checks showed a sprained ligament in his right knee,” the club said.

Now, the August 16 home game against newly-promoted Gazelec Ajaccio will mark Ibrahimovic’s first league outing of the new season.

In his absence, Edinson Cavani – a goalscorer against Lyon in Montreal – and Lucas Moura would feature in coach Laurent Blanc’s three-pronged attack.

Fellow South Americans Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi are still seeking match-fitness, while youngster Jean-Kevin Augustin has enjoyed a prolific pre-season.

Meanwhile, it was announced that PSG fans who do not have tickets for next Friday’s match have been banned from travelling to the area amid concerns about possible crowd trouble.

Local authorities issued an order yesterday barring PSG fans without tickets from Villeneuve d’Ascq, home to the Pierre Mauroy stadium, where Lille play, and neighbouring Lezennes and Ronchin.

The authorities said they feared crowd trouble, citing previous problems caused by Paris SG fans in recent years.

Benzema blow for Real

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema risks missing the start of the season after being diagnosed with a thigh injury.

The 27-year-old France international, who is expected to stay at the Bernabeu despite ongoing speculation linking him to Arsenal, will undergo further evaluation on the muscular complaint.

Benzema’s setback was announced in a statement on the Madrid club’s official website.

Real’s domestic campaign starts at Sporting Gijon on August 23, meaning Benzema has less than three weeks to recover if he is to feature in the curtain-raiser.