A resurgent PSG will target a fifth victory in all competitions when they host a steady Montpellier side on Friday.
It has been a while since Paris Saint-Germain have tasted the feeling of topping the Ligue 1 charts. This season, early pace setters AS Monaco have kept the top position for most parts. But recently, OGC Nice have taken over. Last weekend’s thrilling victory over Brest meant PSG trailing the leaders by a single point heading into the Matchday 11 against Montpellier.
For all the criticism since the campaign began, Luis Enrique is starting to show his worth in Paris, having steadied a rocky ship with tremendous results. Not only have PSG bounced back from their humiliating defeat away to Newcastle United, but they also put themselves in a good position in their Champions League group with a convincing win over AC Milan.
🎙 Luis Enrique: "We want Paris Saint-Germain to be unpredictable"#PSGMHSC https://t.co/nHPg3215C9
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 2, 2023
Last weekend against Brest, Enrique’s men managed to get away with a victory, having lost their two-goal lead in the game. Warren Zaire-Emery’s stunning opener and Kylian Mbappe doubling the lead, Brest found a way back only for Mbappe to score the winner with a rebound off a dodgy spot kick. With the Parisians playing their Ligue 1 game late on Friday, they can go top, albeit temporarily, with a win over Montpellier.
The visiting side are also coming into this clash, aiming to keep up their stellar form in the league. Michel Der Zakarian’s men have recorded three consecutive wins in Ligue 1 without conceding a goal, as they will aim for a fourth against PSG.
Coming to Paris is no mean task, but in how Montpellier brushed Toulouse aside, they have made a statement of intent. Der Zakarian’s men are unbeaten in their last five Ligue 1 games since their narrow defeat to LOSC Lille in early September.
However, Montpellier’s recent record against PSG makes up for a grim reading, losing each of their last nine games against the Parisians in all competitions. Hence, Der Zakarian will aim to keep building on their recent results and try and nick something in Paris against Enrique’s men, who are steadily getting back into their rhythm.
Team News & Tactics
Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Erique could welcome key defender Marquinhos back into his setup after the Brazilian missed last weekend’s action with a groin problem. The Spanish manager will aim at restoring the experience of him and Milan Skriniar, as he spoke highly about the latter in his pre-game talk.
Next match: #PSGMHSC ! 🔜 https://t.co/O5JuxNRmBc pic.twitter.com/fNbolXfQRa
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) October 30, 2023
With crucial personnel fit and available, Enrique might revert to a system he preferably wants as this team’s primary shape. The 4-3-3 is what the manager aims to restore, which could lead to a recall for Manuel Ugarte. But he might continue to resist the temptation of including Randal Kolo Muani from the start just yet.
PSG still have many key players out injured, with none of them showing any signs of coming back. In midfield, with Ugarte likely to start, Enrique might continue with the partnership of Lee Kang-in and Zaire-Emery, with the latter hitting a hot vein of form recently.
In the attack, Enrique might bring back Ousmane Dembele into the lineup and Mbappe on the left. He will likely keep Goncalo Ramos as his leading striker, although there are chances for Kolo Muani to feature. Still, the manager may want to maintain a system that has worked with the Portuguese leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Lee, Ugarte, Zaire-Emery; Dembele, Ramos, Mbappe
Montpellier
Michel Der Zakarian will have no doubts about the lineup that beat Toulouse and may have no qualms about renaming the same team to face PSG. There were some doubts after the last game whether the manager could name the same team following two doubts from that side.
👊 𝑳𝑬 𝑮𝑹𝑶𝑼𝑷𝑬 présenté par @fan4allofficiel#PSGMHSC 👥 20 joueurs convoqués
✅ Partenaire du MHSC et fournisseur d’expériences exclusives pour les fans de foot. https://t.co/A5GzIqFq9H pic.twitter.com/D2huyODqFI
— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) November 2, 2023
Midfielder Joris Chotard hobbled off against Toulouse with a muscular problem. He has since trained normally with the rest of the group and has come back into contention. Zakarian will start against PSG and partner with Jordan Ferri.
In defence, Max Esteve was also a doubt with calf cramps, but it is not understood to be a big issue that would keep him out of the squad. Hence, he would likely start against PSG, while Becir Omeragic could also return to the matchday squad after rapidly returning to fitness from a recent problem.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Sacko, Kouyate, Esteve, Sylla; Chotard, Ferri; Al-Tamari, Savanier, Fayad; Adams
Key Stats
- Paris Saint-Germain have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last seven home matches against Montpellier in all competitions.
- Paris Saint-Germain have won their last seven home matches against Montpellier in all competitions.
- Paris Saint-Germain have scored at least two goals in their last 12 matches against Montpellier in all competitions.
- Montpellier are unbeaten in their last five Ligue 1 games, winning their last three.
- Montpellier have not conceded a goal in each of their last four Ligue 1 games.
Player to Watch
Warren Zaire-Emery
⭐️ Super week for Warren Zaïre-Emery…
◉ First goal of the season scored today.
◉ UCL MOTM vs Milan on Wednesday.
◉ New contract at PSG coming soon.🇫🇷 Next step: Deschamps’ call for the national team.
Reminder: born in March 2006. pic.twitter.com/2o23xrk5Jf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 29, 2023
Luis Enrique has placed massive trust on the young shoulders of Warren Zaire-Emery, and the teenager has delivered in a big way. In a slight tweak to his midfield, the youngster has changed the way PSG have played, which has coincided with the team winning each of their last four games across all competitions.
As things stand, he will continue to feature heavily in this side, and there is another chance to produce a memorable performance against Montpellier. His goal last weekend against Brest should elevate his confidence levels, and all eyes will be on the teenager as he takes on the field on Friday evening.
Prediction
PSG 3-1 Montpellier
The visitors are in a rich vein of form ahead of their visit to Paris, but Luis Enrique might have seen their formidable record in defence and attack. Montpellier have not conceded in each of their last four Ligue 1 games, but scored eight times in their previous three.
However, PSG are a different gravy, especially with their resurgent form, winning four in all competitions. Enrique will indeed aim to make it five and truly embark on a good run that would improve their form for the long season ahead. They are clear favourites to beat Montpellier in Paris and take the three points to go top, albeit temporarily.
