PSG will resume their Ligue 1 campaign on Wednesday after a six-week hiatus, as they entertain 19th-placed Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes.
The reigning French champions are back in action this Wednesday in Ligue 1, with PSG hosting Strasbourg. The hosts will look to continue their fine start to the season, while the away side is aiming to put together a string of results that will lift them out of the relegation zone in the French top-flight.
PSG have been unblemished in Ligue 1 so far this campaign. The Parisians are coming into this one without a defeat so far in the league, drawing two games and winning 13 of the 15 outings, as they sit at the top of the pile with a five-point gap on Lens in second place.
Christophe Galtier has built a well-oiled juggernaut of a team, and it is only a matter of time until we see them crowned as French champions this season. On the other hand, Strasbourg have had a difficult start to the season, and things will not get any easier when they resume league action by facing PSG, Lens, and Lyon in a four-match stretch.
They did draw three of their four games just before the World Cup break but remain second from bottom with only a single win this season (D8 L6). Julien Stephan’s side have a two-point gap to make up for the safety places in Ligue 1. The visitors will be hoping they come up against a complacent Paris Saint-Germain team as they look for an unlikely giant killing.
The corresponding fixture last season was a thrilling affair, as Strasbourg rallied back from three goals down to make it 3-2 in the second half, only for Pablo Sarabia to put the game to bed with a late goal. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the Ligue 1 encounter.
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The FIFA World Cup 2022 Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe is expected to return to domestic action against Strasbourg on Wednesday, just 10 days after France’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Argentina in the World Cup final. But he will likely start on the bench.
Lionel Messi is not expected to return to PSG training until the start of January, after leading Argentina to a historic World Cup triumph in Qatar. A return date has not yet been confirmed. But the French champions are said to be in regular communication with the star, who is set to extend his contractual stay in Paris. Meanwhile, Fabian Ruiz is fit again and would be in the running to feature here.
The hosts are otherwise are expected to continue with a 4-3-1-2 formation that will see the trio of Marco Verratti, Fabian Ruiz, and Vitinha run the show in the middle of the park, with Carlos Soler acting as the attacking midfielder in the absence of Messi.
In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma will continue as Christophe Galtier’s first-choice option, with veteran Keylor Navas settling for a place on the bench. Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos are expected to continue their formidable and experienced defensive partnership at the heart of PSG’s rearguard.
Nuno Mendes is set to be sidelined until February after suffering a thigh injury at the World Cup; Juan Bernat will replace him at left-back. It is unclear if Achraf Hakimi would start here after making history with Morocco by reaching the semi-finals. The attacking full-back has returned to training alongside Mbappe. But Galtier may utilise the versatile Nordi Mukiele at right-back here.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Donnarumma; Mukiele, Marquinhos, Ramos, Bernat; Ruiz, Verratti, Vitinha; Soler; Neymar, Ekitike
RC Strasbourg
Strasbourg will be without the services of Ronael Pierre-Gabriel, who misses out here due to suspension. Alexander Djiku will be suspended for one game for violating the league’s betting regulations. The good news for manager Julien Stephan is that right-back Karol Fila is fit again to fill in for Pierre-Gabriel, having played in the team friendly against Feyenoord over the World Cup. The same goes for key midfield cog Ibrahima Sissoko.
Stephan should line his side up in a 3-5-2 formation, with the midfield three of Adrien Thomasson, Jean-Eudes Aholou, and creator-in-chief Jean-Ricner Bellegarde all contributing quite heavily on the defensive front as well as on the attacking, especially in transition moments.
Matz Sels will be the man in goal for Strasbourg, with the Belgian expected to be busy between the sticks. At the back, Maxime Le Marchand, Gerzino Nyamsi, and Lucas Perrin are expected to form the central defensive rearguard, with Dimitri Lienard and Fila being the wing-backs providing the width as well as doubling up on PSG’s press-resistant midfielders and marauding full-backs.
The Strasbourg attack should be spearheaded by the club’s topscorer Habib Diallo and towering target-man Ludovic Ajorque. Both are potent in front of the goal and have aerial prowess and sheer physicality to create a menace out of themselves. So, the PSG defence could be in for a rough ride and will have to remain on their toes in transitions and set-pieces.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sels; Perrin, Nyamsi, Le Marchand; Fila, Thomasson, Aholou, Bellegarde, Lienard; Diallo, Ajorque
Key Stats
- PSG are undefeated in 31 games at home against Strasbourg across all competitions (W24 D7).
- Paris Saint-Germain have won their last seven games, scoring 24 times in that period.
- Strasbourg have failed to win 15 of their last 16 Ligue 1 matches, beating bottom club Angers in October.
- The hosts have the best attacking and defensive record in the French top-flight this season, netting 43 goals in 15 games – averaging almost three goals per game – while shipping nine goals in these games.
- Since their 2-1 setback to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League in April last year, Les Parisiens have gone unbeaten in their last 36 home games in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Habib Diallo
We are well-informed about PSG’s embarrassment of riches in the attacking department. But the player who will attract some spotlight is Strasbourg’s top scorer, Habib Diallo.
The 27-year-old has six goals this season and will look to add to his tally against the league leaders. Diallo is an exciting striker who boasts excellent pace, aerial prowess, and athleticism. He also has historically had a strong scoring record of nearly one goal every two games for Metz and Strasbourg. So, if Le Racing does go down, he might get himself a move to a more prominent side.
Prediction
PSG 3-1 Strasbourg
PSG should have far too much firepower for Strasbourg, even before we witness the dazzling duo of Neymar and Mbappe make it onto the pitch together. And the visitors, who are in poor form, would likely be pleased just to keep the scoreline a respectable one. It is futile to discuss Strasbourg’s prospects of causing an upset in Paris.
They may struggle to get shooting opportunities. But we could see Strasbourg nestle the PSG net once here thanks to their powerful and potent strikers Ludovic Ajorque and Habib Diallo. However, the gulf in quality is too hard to resist and we are going with a comfortable 3-1 home win for Christophe Galtier’s men.
