Defending champions PSG will travel to Stade Francois-Coty to take on a struggling Ajaccio side starved of goals.
Ligue 1 champions PSG will travel to the island of Corsica to take on Ajaccio in their Ligue 1 fixture on Friday night at Stade Francois-Coty.
Christophe Galtier’s men are yet to taste defeat this season and are threatening to run away with the Ligue 1 title. In possession of the league’s most prolific attack and the stingiest defence means the title is Paris Saint-Germain’s to lose yet again this season.
While Les Parisiens have failed to continue their free-flowing scoring from earlier in the season, the ability to see out games has become more predominant. This augurs well for a side that is seeking to supplement its domestic dominance with European glory.
Ajaccio, meanwhile, are struggling and find themselves 18th in Ligue 1. A major reason for their struggles has been the lack of goals. With just eight strikes, they average less than a goal a game. Having managed a mere two shutouts from the first ten games, the defence is also far from reliable.
The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News and Tactics
Ajaccio
𝐍𝐨𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐱 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 🔴⚪️
Préparez vous avant le match ACA-PSG ✊
Écharpe, drapeau et K-Way sont disponible dès maintenant sur la boutique en ligne et dès jeudi en boutique 👀
Lien de la boutique en ligne 👉 https://t.co/WQ2ECZkuk8#ACAjaccio #ACAPSG pic.twitter.com/fO1JkYKOd7
— AC Ajaccio (@ACAjaccio) October 18, 2022
Ismael Diallo and Cyrille Bayala will both return from suspension and will immediately be considered for a spot in the playing XI. The duo are key players for the French minnows, and their return will be a boon for Olivier Pantaloni.
Romain Hamouma, Yoann Touzghar and Qazim Laci are all out injured, while Fernand Mayembo is a 50-50 to feature. Ajaccio have an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from and will hope to surprise a similarly injury-hit PSG side.
Ajaccio are likely to set up in a 4-4-2 formation with Benjamin Leroy in goal. He will be protected by the back four of Mohamed Youssouf, Oumar Gonzalez, Cedric Avinel and Ismael Diallo.
Vincent Marchetti and Mathieu Coutadeur will form the backbone of the midfield, giving the duo of Cyrille Bayala and Youcef Belaili the freedom to push forward. Mounaim El Idrissy and Bevic Moussiti-Oko will lead the attack up front. The duo will look to take advantage of PSG’s missing centre-backs and maybe spring a surprise or two.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Leroy; Youssouf, Gonzalez, Avinel, Diallo; Bayala, Marchetti, Coutadeur, Belaili; El Idrissy, Moussiti-Oko
Paris Saint-Germain
The French champions will be without Neymar and Sergio Ramos for the game. The Brazilian was the hero last time around versus Marseille and will be missing as he will be in court, making his case against allegations of corruption following his move from Santos to Barcelona. Ramos, meanwhile, is serving his suspension following the sending-off against Reims two weeks ago.
Nuno Mendes is nursing a hamstring injury, while Renato Sanches is recovering from a knock. To add to PSG’s woes, the centre-back duo of Presnel Kimpembe and Danilo Pereira will both miss out thanks to thigh injuries. This limits Galtier’s options at the back, and he could be forced to deploy Nordi Mukiele alongside Marquinhos.
The absence of certain players could force Galtier to shift to a 4-3-1-2 formation for the game. Gianluigi Donnarumma is certain to start in goal behind the back four of Achraf Hakimi, Nordi Mukiele, Marquinhos and Juan Bernat.
🆙⚽️
Back to session for our Parisians 🟥🟦#ACAPSG
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) October 19, 2022
Marco Verratti is one booking away from a suspension but is likely to be included in the starting XI. He is likely to be accompanied by Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz. The trio should provide a stable anchor in the middle of the park, protecting the PSG rearguard.
With Neymar out, Pablo Sarabia is likely to partner with Kylian Mbappe upfront. Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi appears set to don the role of the number 10 and should act as the chief creator of opportunities on the night.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Donnaruma; Hakimi, Mukiele, Marquinhos, Bernat; Vitinha, Verratti, Ruiz; Messi; Sarabia, Mbappe
Key Stats
- PSG have found the back of the net 29 times in their first ten Ligue 1 games, making them the most prolific top-flight team in the league. Ajaccio have scored just eight goals in their opening ten games in Ligue 1. This is the lowest of any side in the current French top flight.
- PSG have conceded just five goals in Ligue 1 this season, making them the meanest defence in the French top division.
- Kylian Mbappe has scored eight goals in Ligue 1 so far this season, as many as the whole Ajaccio side put together. Neymar, meanwhile, is one better with nine goals.
- Ajaccio have not beaten PSG since winning at the Parc des Princes in 2006.
- A clean sheet on the night will see PSG make it five shutouts in a row away from home in Ligue 1 for the first time since 2016.
Player to Watch
Lionel Messi
With Neymar out, the brunt of playmaking will fall onto Messi’s shoulders. The Argentine legend has stepped up his game this season and is a constant outlet for goal-scoring opportunities for PSG.
His ability to drive forward with the ball and also finish off opportunities makes him a difficult player to pin down. Messi’s technical ability will be unlike anything Ajaccio will have faced in the French second division, and they will need to be on their toes and deny him any sort of space.
Mbappe will be expected to lead the line, leaving Messi to act as the number 10. With a midfield trio likely to protect his rear, the Argentine wizard will have the freedom to focus on offensive actions and make a difference in front of the goal.
Prediction
Ajaccio 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Despite the players missing, PSG hold a mighty advantage in terms of personnel and form. As long as Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi turn up, they will be an attacking force to be reckoned with. A win will strengthen PSG’s grip on the top of the Ligue 1 table, and Christophe Galtier will be keen to seize the advantage. The Hard Tackle expects PSG to come out on top by at least three goals.
