PSG will be keen to rediscover their winning touch when they travel to Nice on Saturday night.
Christophe Galtier will return to his former club OGC Nice knowing full well that his job at PSG is under threat following a poor run of results in 2023.
Paris Saint-Germain went into the World Cup hiatus unbeaten across all competitions and with the world at their feet. However, they have failed to maintain the same levels since and now have just the Ligue 1 title to play for.
The meek exit from the UEFA Champions League and two consecutive losses in Ligue 1, both at home has seen their lead at the top of the standings dwindle to a mere six points. With PSG set to play second-placed RC Lens next, they cannot afford to drop points at the Allianz Riviera.
Injuries have certainly played a part in PSG’s struggles. But several top players have failed to step up when needed. Galtier’s tactical flexibility too has to be called into question, as he has largely stuck to the same formation while just shifting around personnel.
Nice are seven points off the final European spot and could make a late punt to challenge for it. They have looked solid at home of late and will be well aware that PSG’s morale will be low. Didier Digard’s men will smell blood and could gain an early initiative if they score first on the night.
Having lost six of the last ten games in all competitions, anything less than a win will not do for Galtier. The likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane are all on the market and PSG are not exactly known to be forgiving to their managers.
Much will be at stake, especially for the visitors when both sides face off at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
OGC Nice
#OGCNPSG plein à 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣%
Il ne reste plus aucune place. L’affluence sera de 34.250 spectateurs, soit 100% de la capacité commerciale de l’#AllianzRiviera sur ce match.
A samedi… 🔴⚫️
— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) April 6, 2023
Nice might be closer to mid-table than the top six at this point but have proven themselves to be difficult to beat in recent times. Didier Digard’s side have tasted defeat just once in their last 20 Ligue 1 games and are unbeaten since January 2nd 2023.
While five draws in the last six games have taken the sheen off their run, it does display a degree of doggedness that make them a difficult opponent to get the better of. Playing at home, they will go into the tie against PSG with confidence that a favourable result can be obtained.
Youcef Atal and Sofiane Diop are both injured and will miss out. Hicham Boudaoui is still carrying a niggle, while Jordan Lotomba is out for the long term. January signing Terem Moffi has proven to be a sensational addition and will prove to be PSG’s biggest threat on the night.
A 4-3-3 formation should do the job with Kasper Schmeichel starting in goal. The back four of Antoine Mendy, Jean-Clair Todibo, Dante and Melvin Bard will aim to keep The PSG attack quiet.
Pablo Rosario should start in central midfield if Boudaoui is not fit enough and will be ably assisted by the experience and energy of Aaron Ramsey and Khephren Thuram. The trio will have the big task of cutting off supply to the PSG attack, isolating the visitors’ frontline and impacting their effectiveness.
Moffi will lead the line on the night with Nicolas Pepe and Gaetan Laborde in support. As long as they score first, there is every chance Nice can come away with all three points. PSG’s defence has injuries and is far from solid, applying pressure on their backline from the start could certainly yield fruit.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Mendy, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Ramsey, Rosario, Thuram; Pepe, Moffi, Laborde
Paris Saint-Germain
The defending champions have seen the rails come off the campaign this year and are now only left with the Ligue 1 to contend with. Consecutive losses have seen them surrender a 12-point lead at the top of the table.
With second-placed RC Lens up next week, Christophe Galtier will be keen for his side to build up a winning momentum. However, he will have to do so with a roster lacking confidence and several star players who are out injured.
Neymar and Presnel Kimpembe are out for the campaign while Sergio Ramos and Nordi Mukiele are at least a week away from returning to action. Carlos Soler is also likely to miss out while Marco Verratti, who limped off last weekend is also sidelined.
Brazilian international Marquinhos will make his 400th appearance for the club and will need to step up his game to solidify the rearguard. Keeping Terem Moffi quiet will be a key challenge and unless Marquinhos proves himself capable, it could prove to be a long night for the visitors.
A 3-5-2 formation appears to be the flavour of the night with Gianluigi Donnarumma holding the fort in goal. He will be protected by the trio of Danilo Pereira, Marquinhos and El Chadaille Bitshiabu.
⚽️ 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄
🆚 Nice
🗓️ 08/04 – 21h #OGCNPSG I @visitrwanda_now pic.twitter.com/maaa9WgwJQ— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 6, 2023
Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes will serve as the wing-backs and will provide the attacking impetus on the flanks. They will be afforded the freedom to get forward with ease should the midfield trio of Vitinha, Warren Zaire-Emery and Renato Sanches help establish control in the middle of the park.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both scored blanks in the last few games and will need to get their act together. Unless the duo rediscover their mojo, the PSG attack will continue to lack bite and should continue to flounder. With Verratti absent, Messi is likely to drop deeper to function as the playmaker, leaving Mbappe largely isolated upfront.
Should Thuram and Ramsey push forward, it could make life very difficult for the PSG side which appears to lack balance in transition on the field.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Pereira, Marquinhos, Bitshiabu; Hakimi, Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Renato Sanches, Nuno Mendes; Messi, Mbappe
Key Stats
- Nice have won just three of their last 24 Ligue 1 games against PSG.
- Only Nice have taken more points than PSG against teams in the top half of Ligue 1 in 2023.
- Nice are unbeaten in their last 14 games across all competitions, the second longest unbeaten streak in club history.
- PSG have a six-point lead over second-placed RC Lens in the Ligue 1 standings. No team has surrendered the top spot with such a league at this stage in the French top flight.
- Nice are on a ten-game unbeaten streak at home in Ligue 1. This is their longest such run since 2016/17.
- Another blank on the night will see PSG fail to score in three straight Ligue 1 games for the first time in 16 years.
Player to Watch
Terem Moffi
The 23-year-old has proven to be an inspired signing for Nice and has added some clinical strength to their attack. A return of five goals and two assists in nine games is an excellent return and he is likely to lead the line on the night for the home side against PSG.
While he does lack the prowess to challenge in the air, the ability to find the back of the net consistently makes him a difficult customer in the penalty area. With the likes of Sergio Ramos and Presnel Kimpembe unavailable, Terem Moffi can stretch Marquinhos and cause havoc in the PSG backline.
Unless the visitors keep a keen eye on the Nigerian, there is every reason to believe he could be PSG’s undoing on the night.
Prediction
Nice 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain
PSG are in acute need of a win but doubts have emerged regarding their invulnerability of late. Nice, for their part, are not just in good form but also have home support to bank on. The game is likely to be hard fought with individual brilliance likely to make the difference. A scored draw between both teams appears to be the most likely result.
