PSG will look to return to winning ways in Ligue 1 when they travel to Montpellier on Wednesday night.
PSG will be looking to open the gap in front of their opposition at the top of the Ligue 1 standing when league leaders travel to Stade de la Mosson to take on Montpellier on Wednesday night.
The reigning champions have been experiencing a patchy period in the last few weeks and will be looking to get their Ligue 1 campaign back on track after two successive league games without a win.
The most recent setback came in their most recent encounter when Reims managed to salvage a 1-1 draw in the 96th minute after 45th-minute substitute Marco Verratti was sent off early in the second half. Before this, PSG were humiliated by title rivals Lens, losing 3-1.
The Parisians are without a doubt the best team in the French top flight. Strangely, with all of the firepower at their disposal, and probably the strongest attacking trio in the world (Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe, or MNM), they have failed to run away with the league.
Indeed, several poor displays and stars taking their time to settle in following an exhaustive World Cup have resulted in Lens closing the gap to only three points away and Marseille being close to a five-point deficit. So, what seemed like an easy and simple road to defending the title for PSG has now turned into a three-horse race.
Fortunately for PSG, nearest rivals Lens and Marseille also failed to grab all three points in their respective games. But Christophe Galtier knows that complacency has crept in some players and that a tally of seven points from a possible 15 is not enough given the riches at their disposal. They will look to put things right against a defensively shoddy Montpellier this midweek.
On the other hand, the hosts have been inconsistent this season, currently sitting 14th in the league and looking over their shoulders at the relegation scrap, which is far too close for their comfort. Montpellier have racked up 20 points in as many games this season, just five points above the relegation zone and two points behind Nantes in 13th.
La Paillade finally ended a run of three consecutive defeats by beating second-from-bottom Auxerre 2-0 at the weekend. But their home form remains concerning, with six losses in ten appearances this term. The last time they met PSG, Montpellier were humiliated 5-2. They will, however, be aware that their opponents have not been at their best recently and will try to steal a result in this one.
Team News & Tactics
Montpellier
🎙 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝘁𝗲 se présente devant les médias
⚡️CONF #MHSCPSG pic.twitter.com/UtkBcJP9pC
— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) January 31, 2023
La Paillade boss Romain Pitau has no fresh concerns to report from their victory over Auxerre but will have several absentees.
The hosts are without the suspended attacking duo of the in-demand Elye Wahi and Wahbi Khazri, both of whom missed the 2-0 win over Auxerre on Sunday after being sent off in a 3-0 defeat to Nantes in mid-January. Meanwhile, Jordan Ferri (flu) and Pedro Mendes are doubtful. Dimitry Bertaud and Theo Sainte-Luce are long-term injury absentees.
After a morale-boosting victory over Auxerre at the weekend, Pitau should stick with the same lineup that took to the pitch in that game. Benjamin Lecomte is almost certain to start in goal for the hosts. The French shot-stopper, who had a successful stint in Montpellier from 2017/19, was brought back as a replacement for Jonas Omlin, who left for Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Having conceded 40 goals in 20 matches this season, Pitau hopes his new goalkeeper can help them stay in the top division. Indeed, Benjamin Lecomte was already decisive, stopping a penalty in the closing stages against Auxerre.
The back four could keep their place as well after managing a first clean sheet, with Christopher Jullien and Maxime Esteve forming the central defensive partnership, flanked by Enzo Tchato and Faitout Maouassa. The double pivot of Leo Leroy and Joris Chotard will also hold their place in the middle of the park.
Teji Tedy Savanier will be the attacking midfielder, looking to provide creativity and goals in the final third, with support from versatile attacker Arnaud Nordin.
After going more than a year without scoring, Stephy Mavididi scored a wonderful brace over the weekend, regaining his scoring touch again at the right time just before leader Paris Saint-Germain’s visit on Wednesday.
Montpellier struggled for long spells at Auxerre, and Mavididi’s clinical efficiency made up for his team’s defensive shortcomings. The English striker will be required to produce the goods in the final third with minimal service yet again because clear-cut chances will be few and far between against superior opposition.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Tchato, Jullien, Esteve, Maouassa; Leroy, Chotard; Nordin, Savanier, Mavididi; Germain
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier will have to make do without the services of Marco Verratti for Wednesday’s trip to Montpellier. The Italian playmaker was shown a straight red card for a serious foul on Junya Ito at the weekend, as PSG dropped more points in a 1-1 draw with Stade Reims.
Verratti will be joined by the injured Nordi Mukiele (hamstring), Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), and Nuno Mendes (muscle) on the absentee list. Christophe Galtier may be compelled to make some changes here following their disappointing draw.
There is no looking past Gianluigi Donnarumma for the number-one goalkeeper position at Parc des Princes, especially now that Keylor Navas is closing in on a potential loan move to Nottingham Forest.
Galtier could line PSG up in a 4-3-1-2 setup, with slight changes in midfield as well. Danilo Pereira should come into the side in place of Vitinha, operating in the holding midfield position to provide the aged backline with defensive protection in counter-attacking phases.
🔜🎙️
Christophe Galtier’s press conference ahead of #MHSCPSG is coming up shortlyhttps://t.co/EahYhbiDqp
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 31, 2023
Renato Sanches is also likely to make a return to the starting XI as he looks to orchestrate the game with his passing and excellent ball progression.
Carlos Soler is an option alongside him in midfield. But given that the opposition are likely to drop deep, Galtier might go for the more creative Fabian Ruiz, while Messi will look to make a difference from the attacking No. 10 position behind skillful runners Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, the latter of whom scored a lovely goal last time out.
At the back, Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos will continue their defensive partnership at the heart of PSG’s backline. Achraf Hakimi should occupy his preferred right wing-back role. His rampaging forward runs could help by offering width and creativity in the attacking third. Meanwhile, on the opposite wing, Juan Bernat is expected to replace the injured Nuno Mendes.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Ramos, Bernat; Ruiz, Pereira, Sanches; Messi; Neymar, Mbappe
Key Stats
- Montpellier have failed to win any of their last five home matches.
- PSG have kept six clean sheets in their past ten away matches.
- PSG have the best away record in the French top flight (W7 D1 L2).
- PSG have scored 24 goals in their last seven matches against Montpellier.
- Montpellier have conceded two or more goals in seven of their last ten matches
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe continues to smash records in Ligue 1 with his goalscoring exploits. Currently leading the scoring charts in the league with 13 goals as well as a couple of assists, he will be a nightmare for Montpellier’s defenders. Mbappe’s electrifying pace, link-up play, and unsurmountable amount of confidence in front of goal might be crucial for PSG in their chances of dismantling the Montpellier defence this midweek.
Prediction
Montpellier 0-3 PSG
PSG’s recent form has been sloppy, to put it politely, with Sunday’s surprising draw with Reims the latest in a string of unsatisfactory results. But Montpellier’s inconsistency this season may be encouraging to Christophe Galtier’s men. Montpellier have one of the most unusual goal numbers, having scored 30 times while conceding 40, failing to shut the back door all season.
They have been particularly terrible at home recently, taking up only one point out of a possible 15. And Montpellier were smashed by an underperforming OGC Nice 6-1 not long ago. With their famed and expensively assembled front three all fit to start from the get-go, PSG should cruise to victory if they are motivated enough to play against a weaker opposition.
