PSG can take a step closer to defending their Ligue 1 crown should they get the better of FC Lorient on Sunday night
Defending champions PSG take on mid-table FC Lorient in their Ligue 1 clash at the Parc des Princes on Sunday night.
Christophe Galtier’s men are currently eight points ahead of second-placed Marseille with six games to go. Securing another three points on the night will see them take yet another step towards the title.
PSG came out winners in a tense 2-1 scoreline over bottom-placed Angers last time around. While they might be getting over the line, the French giants have been far from formidable. Lorient certainly can hurt them should they play with a semblance of ambition.
Having been knocked out of all the cup competitions, Galtier’s side have nothing but the league to play for. Anything less than a successful title defence will more or less see the Frenchman on his way out. His spot at the Parc des Princes is far from secure even if he does go on to lift the title.
Lorient, on the other hand, are comfortably placed in mid-table. They have little to play for and will be aiming for a top-half end to the campaign. An eighth-placed finish is a possibility and should give them a solid base to build upon in the seasons to come.
On Sunday however, Lorient will go into the game as underdogs with PSG expected to secure all three points. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Paris Saint-Germain
🆗📑 The squad for #PSGFCL this Sunday. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/LJU4ofeqcS
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 29, 2023
The French champions have surrendered their aura of invincibility since the turn of the new year. However, a run of three wins has seen them pull away at the top of the Ligue 1 standings.
The trophy is now within sight and as long as Galtier’s men keep it simple, it is a straightway road to being crowned champions. If anybody can shoot themselves in the foot, it is Paris Saint-Germain.
Neymar, Nordi Mukiele and Presnel Kimpembe all miss out and are ruled out for the season with injuries. Timothy Pembele is back in training alongside Nuno Mendes. The latter is expected to play a role on the night, even if it is from the bench.
Renato Sanches is also set to miss the game as he continues his fight against injury. There is also some good news for the home side as Marco Verratti is in contention to return to the starting XI. He came off the bench against Angers and the runout will have done his match fitness a world of good.
The 3-5-2 formation appears to be the formation for the day with Gianluigi Donnarumma starting in goal. The Azzurri shot-stopper is likely to be protected by the trio of Danilo Pereira, Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos.
Achraf Hakim should start out wide with Juan Bernat, who assisted the opener against Nagers occupying the opposite wing. Verratti is expected to replace Carlos Soler in central midfield, lining up alongside Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz.
The front two of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe select themselves and will be a formidable threat to the Lorient backline. As long as the duo turn up, PSG will more or less see off most opposition.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Pereira, Ramos, Marquinhos; Hakimi, Ruiz, Vitinha, Verratti, Bernat; Messi, Mbappe
FC Lorient
Regis Le Bris’s side have shown moments of quality but much work needs to be done if they plan to challenge for a European spot next season. They are comfortably off in mid-table and have just pride to play for.
A visit to the Parc des Princes is never easy and Lorient will find themselves up against the wall if PSG are in the mood. Their recent record against the defending champions is nothing to write home about either.
The visitors are also beset by several players being absent from the game. Jean Victor-Makengo and Igor SIlva miss out through injuries, joining Theo Le Bris and Julien Laporte on the sidelines. Julien Ponceau is suffering from an illness but should at least settle for a spot on the bench.
A 3-4-2-1 formation is the flavour of the day with Yvon Mvogo starting in goal. He will be behind the back three of Vincent Le Goff, Montassar Talbi and Abdoul Bamo Meite.
Gedeon Kalulu and Darlin Yongwa will be tasked with running up and down the wing, keeping PSG’s marauding full-backs at bay. Doing so will rob Messi and Mbappe of at least a semblance of service, giving the visiting defence a small reprieve.
📄🐟 Voici le groupe des Merlus pour affronter le @PSG_inside demain à 17:05 pic.twitter.com/mKEqtJPtkO
— FC LORIENT 🐟 (@FCLorient) April 29, 2023
Bonke Innocent and Laurent Abergel should start in central midfield, acting more or less as a double pivot. They will be tasked with keeping Verratti off the ball, where the Italian is at his best.
Enzo Le Fee is enjoying a good season and will be the chief playmaker for Lorient on the night. The Frenchman is expected to rise to great heights and showing off his pedigree against PSG would be an excellent way to do that. Romain Faivre is also expected to line up alongside him but one of either will be expected to drop deeper and even the odds in the battle for control of the central midfield.
Ibrahima Kone will start upfront and will need to be alert to seize any opportunity he gets. The front three can cause some serious damage if PSG takes their foot off the gas. A lot depends on how well the home side deals with Le Fee.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Mvogo; Meite, Talbi, Le Goff; Kalulu, Innocent, Abergel, Yongwa; Le Fee, Faivre; Kone
Key Stats
- PSG have won their last six games against Lorient in Ligue 1. This is their third-best winning streak currently active against a particular side in the French top flight.
- PSG have failed to keep a clean sheet against Lorient for four straight Ligue 1 games now. Only against RC Lens and LOSC Lille do they have a worse run.
- PSG are the only side to have won all the games against teams who are in the bottom half of the Ligue 1 standings.
- PSG’s return of 75 points at this stage is their best return at this point of a season since the 2018/19 campaign.
Player to Watch
Enzo Le Fee
Embed from Getty Images
The young Frenchman is enjoying an excellent season for Lorient. Both a goalscorer and a creator, Le Fee is starting to attract attention from some of Europe’s top teams. A solid showing against a team of PSG’s ability will not do him any harm
Le Fee’s ability to slide into space will make him a dangerous opponent for the PSG defence to pace. Especially so when one takes into account Ramos’s lack of pace. The 23-year-old is Lorient’s most dangerous player going forward and will take some stopping when on song.
Prediction
PSG 2-1 FC Lorient
Paris will be expected to secure all three points on the night but Lorient will not make it easy. The visitors are a tricky side when in the groove and should make life difficult for Galtier and Co. However, playing under home conditions, PSG’s quality should shine through and their world-class frontline coming up trumps. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the defending champions.
