Clermont Foot will face a difficult challenge when they face a PSG side that is returning to form.
Clermont Foot have gotten off to an abject start this season in Ligue 1 and now face the prospect of facing off a PSG side that is discovering its rhythm.
Luis Enrique’s men have had a mixed start to the campaign but burst into life during the impressive 4-0 win over Olympique Marseille last time around. The new look attack exploded and might have given us a glimpse of what to expect in the coming months.
The win did not just improve their goal difference but also saw them rise to the third spot in Ligue 1, just two points off the summit. The same cannot be said of Clermont Foot, who are now rooted to the bottom, having lost five of their opening six league games.
The home side’s issues lie at the back where they are struggling to keep clean sheets. While the attack has been decent, the defence continues to crumble like a pile of cards if pressurised. In fact, no other team has conceded more goals than Clermont Foot in the Ligue 1 this season.
Clermont Foot were able to stun Paris Saint-Germain last time around because they took their chances. PSG still are shaky at the back but unless opposition teams punish them, their explosive frontline should end up making the difference on the night.
In the end, there is little chance of Clermont being able to pull off a scoring contest with the defending champions given their current form. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on Sunday and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Clermont Foot
Dernier entraînement avant #CF63PSG 🌋
⏳ Rendez-vous dans 24 heures ⚔🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/GLKPo45T2P
— Clermont Foot 63 (@ClermontFoot) September 29, 2023
Pascal Gastien’s side could not have asked for a tougher opponent as they aim to end their search for a win this season. Les Lanciers are currently five points off safety and will cease to see the light if they keep falling further behind.
They will need to do so without Komnen Andric and Neto Borges, both of whom are unavailable for the match. Gastien is unlikely to deviate from the 3-5-2 formation and will hope that putting the numbers in midfield will help offset PSG’s possession-heavy brand of football.
Mory Diaw should start in goal behind the back three of Alidu Seidu, Andy Pelmard and Maximiliano Caufriez. They will be backed up by Cheick Oumar Konate and Jim Allevinah, who are expected to don the wing-backs’ roles. The duo should also fall back when needed and form a flat back five in an effort to plug space for the PSG attackers to run into.
Yohann Magnin is expected to anchor the midfield with Johan Gastien and Maxime Gonalons alongside him in the centre of the park. Shamar Nicholson and Muhammed Cham are expected to start upfront.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Diaw; Seidu, Pelmard, Caufriez; Konate, Gonalons, Magnin, Gastien, Allevinha; Nicholson, Cham
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG finally appear to be coming into their element. They have switched to a possession-heavy brand of football and appear to be channelling their proficiency in tiki-taka; to a degree.
One major absentee for the visitors will be star striker Kylian Mbappe who limped off last weekend with what appeared to be an ankle injury. However, despite Enrique confirming that the Frenchman is fine, he is unlikely to be risked, given the riches PSG can call upon in the attack.
Mbappe is still expected to play a role in the match, unlike the injured quintet of Marco Asensio, Presnel Kimpembe, Alexandre Letellier, Nuno Mendes and Sergio Rico.
Le groupe pour le déplacement à Clermont. 🔛👊
🔗 https://t.co/uqmCBfxG7J#CF63PSG pic.twitter.com/qIAmpR0mcM
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 29, 2023
Gianluigi Donnarumma will start in goal behind the backline of Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Milan Skriniar and Lucas Hernandez. The trio of Manuel Ugarte, Vitinha and Warren Zaire-Emery should retain their spots in midfield, giving the impetus for Ousmane Dembele, Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani to run riot upfront.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Ugarte, Vitinha; Dembele, Ramos, Kolo Muani
Key Stats
- A loss on the night will see Clermont Foot suffer four straight home defeats for the first time since 2012.
- PSG have not gone three games without conceding a goal across all competitions since January 2022.
- PSG have not lost away from home in all competitions since the reversal against Bayern Munich in March 2023.
- Clermont Foot are the 21st French team to have secured just one point from their opening six Ligue 1 games of a campaign. 13 of the 20 teams before they were relegated later in the campaign.
- A win on the night will see Clermont Foot win consecutive games against PSG for the first time ever.
Player to Watch
Goncalo Ramos
The Portuguese international had the unenviable position of replacing Neymar and initially struggled. He burst into form against Marseille and the brace on the night should fill him with confidence. Ramos will be keen to kick on and make the starting position his own with another strong performance.
A pivotal player who can lead the line, he should link up well, with Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani to great effect. The PSG man is certainly capable of sniffing out opportunities and should relish the opportunity to go up against a leaky Clermont backline.
Prediction
Clermont Foot 1-3 PSG
While Clermont Foot stunned PSG at the Stade Gabriel-Montpied last time around, it could be a whole new ball game this time around. The visitors are discovering their groove and will be keen to keep their charge up the table alive. While the home side will have their moments of joy, the visitors’ quality should see them come away with all three points.
