Minnows Chateauroux will welcome Ligue 1 champions PSG in the Round of 64 in the French Cup on Friday night.
Division three side Chateauroux will find themselves in a David vs Goliath situation when they take on Ligue 1 hotshots PSG in the Coupe de France on Friday night.
Christophe Galtier’s side are smarting from their first defeat of the season following the weekend’s 3-1 reversal to RC Lens. They will be keen to get back to winning ways and resume the march to domestic dominance.
They go into the clash against Chateauroux as heavy favourites. The home side are not just lacking in quality but are also in the middle of a four-game winless streak. Facing a PSG side that is seeking redemption is not the easiest match-up at this moment in time.
Both sides have faced off against each other just once before in a competitive setting. This came all the way back in 2004 when PSG came out trumps in the Coupe de France final. Given the current form and the disparity in quality between the sides, it would take a herculean effort from the home side to stand a chance.
Having lost to Lens, PSG have been dealt an easy picture on paper to get their bearings back. It also allows them to rest key players ahead of much more pressing games ahead. Chateauroux, meanwhile, are coming off a poor run of just two wins in their last nine games and have a mountain to climb on the night.
The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the night.
Team News & Tactics
Chateauroux
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๐ โ #๐๐๐PSG | #TousUnisAvecLaBerri pic.twitter.com/ScJHqUMYQM
— La Berrichonne de Chรขteauroux (@LaBerrichonne) January 5, 2023
La Berri have little experience of facing top-level opposition and have enjoyed Ligue 1 action just once before. Now in the French third tier, they are struggling to make an impact and find themselves two points above the relegation zone.
While they will attempt to pile on PSG’s misery following their defeat to Lens, the difference in quality between the teams is a major sticking point. Maxence Flachez’s men will have to dig deep and work their socks off to stop Christophe Galtier’s juggernauts and will hope that home support can swing the momentum in their favour.
Chateauroux are likely to deploy in a 5-3-2 formation. They are likely to swarm the midfield and defence, using numbers to their advantage. With Marco Verratti out and several youngsters in the fray to get playtime, the home side could attempt to use that to their advantage and press the opposition.
Paul Delecroix should start in goal behind the back five of Benjaloud Youssouf, Kouadio Ange Ahoussou, Peter Ouaneh and Opa Sangante. The trio of Jonathan Mexique, Romain Basque, and Malcolm Viltard will marshall the midfield, aiming to catch PSG napping.
Natanael Ntolla and Florian Bianchini will lead the attack and will hope to catch the PSG defence off guard. It will not come as a surprise should either of them drop back to add further numbers to the midfield when not in possession.
Probable Lineup (5-3-2):ย Delecroix; Youssouf, Ahoussou, Ouaneh, Sangante, Mbengue; Mexique, Basque, Viltard; Ntolla, Bianchini
PSG
The French Cup is unlikely to feature prominently at the top of PSG’s priorities this season, and Christophe Galtier could ring in the changes on the night. Given the gap between both the teams, the Parisian boss has the opportunity to give his top players a breather.
World Cup heroes Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi are set to be rested, while Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes are still out injured. Midfield maestro Marco Verratti is also ruled out owing to a one-match suspension. Renato Sanches missed the last two matches with an injury and is a doubt to feature on the night.
It is not all bad news as Brazilian ace Neymar is back available after serving his suspension against Lens. World Cup winner Lionel Messi is also back in Paris but is unlikely to be played from the start on the night.
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The squad for #LBCPSG in the @coupedefrance! ๐ด๐ต
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 5, 2023
Galtier is likely to retain his faith in the 4-3-1-2 formation. Sergio Rico looks set to start in goal behind the back four of Nordi Mukiele, Marquinhos, El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Juan Bernat. Youngsters Warren Zaire-Emery and Ismael Gharbi could get the nod alongside Vitinha in the midfield. Gharbi, in particular, will be tasked with connecting the midfield to the attack.
Carlos Soler should occupy the number 10 role, feeding Hugo Ekitike and Pablo Sarabia upfront. Despite the changes, PSG should have enough in their tank to win the clash comfortably.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2):ย Rico; Mukiele, Marquinhos, Bitshiabu, Bernat; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Gharbi; Soler; Sarabia, Ekitike
Key Stats
- PSG are the most successful side in the Coupe de France history, winning the trophy 14 times.
- PSG have made the final of the tournament every year since 2015 bar 2022.
- Chateauroux have never won the Coupe de France in their history. The best they managed was a final appearance in 20024, where they fell to PSG.
- Chateauroux have won just two of their last nine competitive games across all competitions. Both wins have come in the Coupe de France.
Player to Watch
Carlos Soler
The Spaniard was hitting his stride for PSG before the World Cup and will be keen to rediscover that purple patch of form sooner rather than later. With PSG’s vaunted front three all likely to be rested or start on the bench, Soler has the opportunity to dictate play and pull strings in attack.
The 26-year-old does not just possess an eye for a pass but is also excellent at getting forward and having a pop at the goal. He could enjoy several such opportunities on the night and should have a key role to play in his side’s chances of attacking success.
Prediction
Chateauroux 0-3 PSG
Chateauroux are not in the best of forms at the moment and are struggling for any joy in the French third division. With relegation a real possibility, there is a very big chance that the cup clash is not high on their agenda and that their priorities lie elsewhere.
Despite being set to make several changes, Christophe Galtier’s men have the quality to romp home to a comfortable win. Even if the home side do turn up the heat, the options available on PSG’s bench should swing the tie in their favour. Anything less than a comfortable win for PSG over Chateauroux will be a surprise indeed.
