PSG will take on minnows US Revel in the Coupe de France Round of 64 on Sunday night.
Still fresh from their Trophee des Champions triumph earlier in the week, French giants PSG will travel to sixth-tier side US Revel in their first Coupe de France clash this season.
Luis Enrique’s men are overwhelming favourites, and anything less than a convincing win will raise eyebrows. Even with a rotated squad, Paris Saint-Germain have the odds stacked in their favour.
PSG are the most successful side in the competition’s history, having won it 14 times so far. However, their last triumph came in 2021, three years ago. Enrique will be keen to secure number 15 and will want his side to make a statement against Revel.
For the minnows, it is the opportunity of a lifetime and their players are certainly excited by the prospect of facing France’s premier side. A strong showing could certainly aid their cause, regardless of the final result.
On paper, it is a vastly mismatched tie, with PSG head and shoulders above their opponents. With bigger fish to fry in the coming weeks, Enrique is presented with an excellent opportunity to make the most of his squad’s depth. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
US Revel
Founded in 1910, Revel have largely languished in the minor and amateur leagues in France. The opportunity to welcome PSG is arguably the most noteworthy moment in their recent history, and the minnows will be keen to make the most of it.
There will be no illusions regarding the gulf in class between both teams, and Revel are likely to go in with a 5-4-1 formation. As long as the scoreline stays respectable, they will walk away with their heads held high. This will be especially true given the names on the PSG frontline.
Cyril Garcia should start in goal behind the back five of Jonathan Vieu, Pierre-Antoine Palacios, Clement Briol, Joshua Mbuluba and Maxence N’Guessan. Vivien Vaysset and Thomas Calmettes will aim to hold the fort in the centre of the pitch, with Maxime Zahil and Pierre Ritter offering the width.
Jean Boyer will lead the line and is likely to be largely isolated on the night. Should he make something happen, it could very well prove to be a wake-up call for PSG and Co.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Garcia; Vieu, Palacios, Briol, Mbuluba, N’Guessan; Zahil, Calmettes, Vaysset, Ritter; Boyer
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG have several players unavailable for the game. Milan Skriniar will undergo retinaculum surgery next week and is expected to be out for some time.
Presnel Kimpembe is recovering from surgery, while Nuno Mendes and Arnau Tenas are also following their recovery schedules. Lucas Hernandez is suffering from a viral infection and will be rested. Despite the absentees, PSG should have enough in their ranks to make life easy for themselves.
The biggest story from the Paris camp will be whether Kylian Mbappe will get to share the field with his brother Ethan Mbappe. The latter has been named in the squad and could very well make his PSG senior bow.
Enrique is likely to go with his trusted 4-3-3 formation. Keylor Navas should return to the lineup and will be protected by the backline of Nordi Mukiele, Danilo Pereira, Lucas Beraldo and Carlos Soler.
Manuel Ugarte will provide the experience in the middle of the park alongside Ethan Mbappe and Cher Ndour. The frontline is where PSG’s power lies, and the trio of Kylian Mbappe, Goncalo Ramos and Marco Asensio should prove daunting to the Revel backline.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Navas; Mukiele, Pereira, Beraldo, Soler; Ugarte, E. Mbappe; Ndour; K.Mbappe, Ramos, Asensio
Key Stats
- This is the first-ever meeting between US Revel and PSG.
- US Revel have never played in the top tier of French football.
- PSG are the most successful side in Coupe de France history, having won it 14 times.
- PSG failed to make it to the final of the competition for two years now, after enjoying a run of seven successive appearances in the showpiece event.
Player to Watch
Ethan Mbappe
The Mbappe name is synonymous with the best that French football has to offer at this time and the opportunity is now for PSG to introduce the world to Ethan. The young midfielder has been included in the squad and will be in line to make his Cup debut for the French champions.
The game comes a little over a fortnight after Ethan made his senior bow against Metz. The central midfielder will be keen to leave an impact and will also hope to link up with his electric older brother on the field. Whether it is from the kickoff or off the bench, Ethan will certainly be privy to much interest on the night.
Prediction
US Revel 0-4 PSG
The difference in quality between both teams is too massive to even contemplate an upset. PSG are the clear favourites and should win the game by at least four goals on the night.