PSG will be keen to get back to winning ways when they travel to Strasbourg on Friday night.
Defending champions PSG will travel to RC Strasbourg in the early kick-off on Friday, aiming to put their disappointing 2-2 draw against Brest behind them.
Luis Enrique’s men threw away a 2-0 lead against Brest, and despite holding onto top spot with a healthy lead, had to settle for a share of the spoils on the night. Now back on the road, Paris Saint-Germain will hope to rediscover their winning touch.
Patrick Vieira has led the home side on an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions and will hope to cause an upset on the night. Having put up a ten-point gap between them and the relegation zone, Strasbourg will try to push on and finish as high as they can come the end of the current campaign.
The Stade de la Meinau has been a welcoming venue for PSG in recent years, and they have not lost to Strasbourg since 2017. Unless Vieiera and Co. put on a masterclass, it could very well prove to be just another brick in PSG’s march to yet another Ligue 1 title. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
RC Strasbourg
Les Coureurs will be without Saidou Sow, who is still alive and kicking in the Africa Cup of Nations with Guinea. Patrick Vieira will have the same squad that was available to him against Clermont for the game on Friday.
Another player who is unavailable is former PSG man Kevin Gameiro. The Frenchman is nursing a muscular strain and is likely to settle for a spot on the sidelines. Lebo Mothiba, Jeremy Sebas, and Ismael Doukoure are also nursing injuries, rendering themselves unavailable for selection.
Given PSG’s attacking flair, Vieira is likely to adopt a safety-first approach, opting for a five-man backline. The aim will be to crowd out the visitors’ forwards and then counter through the wings. PSG are susceptible to speedy counters, and Vieira will be keen to exploit that chink in the champions’ armour.
The 5-3-2 formation does not just offer defensive solidity but can also be adapted to a 3-5-2 when needed. This flexibility helps them counter PSG’s advantage when it comes to quality at an individual level.
Matz Sels should start in goal behind the back five of Marvin Senaya, Lucas Perrin, Gerzino Nyamsi, Loubadhe Abakar Sylla and Thomas Delaine. Ibrahima Sissoko will be the rock in midfield with Junior Mwanga and Habib Diarra in support. Emanuel Emegha and Moise Sahi Dion will lead the line, with the latter keen to add to the goal he scored against Clermont last time out.
Probable Lineup (5-3-2): Sels; Senaya, Perrin, Nyamsi, Sylla, Delaine; Mwanga, Sissoko, Diarra; Emegha, Dion
PSG
The champions have several injuries to contend with but have a deep squad that can now prove its worth. Luis Enrique will hope to put their second-half collapse against Brest last time around and prove to it to be a bli[r rather than a worrying trend.
Layvin Kurzawa, Milan Skriniar, Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe and Sergio Rico headline the list of unavailable players for PSG on the night. Achraf Hakimi suffered a shocking loss at the AFCON against South Africa but the game on Friday will come a tad too soon for him to return to club football.
Lee Kang-in is still at the Asian Cup and will miss out as well. With Bradley Barcola suspended, the visitors do have decisions to make. Dropping more points on the night will not see PSG surrender the top spot in Ligue 1 but it will further dent their aura of invincibility.
Enrique is expected to deploy his side in a 4-3-3 formation, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. The Italian should be protected by the back four of Warren Zaire-Emery, Danilo Pereira, Marquinhos, and Lucas Hernandez.
Manuel Ugarte will hold the fort in central midfield, with Marco Asensio and Vitinha providing support. The former will be responsible for carrying the fall forward and connecting the midfield to the frontline. Randal Kolo Muani should lead the attack with Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe providing the width., In this trio lies PSG’s major strength and the ability to turn the game in the blink of an eye.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Zaire-Emery, Pereira, Marquinhos, Hernandez; Asensio, Ugarte, Vitinha; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
Key Stats
- Strasbourg have failed to win any of their last 11 league games against PSG. Only against Olympique Marseille do they have a longer streak that is active in the top flight (17).
- Both teams have found the back of the net in the last seven clashes between them at the Le Meinau.
- Avoiding a loss on the night will see Strasbourg extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches in Ligue 1. This will see Patrick Vieira equal his longest unbeaten run as a manager in Europe’s top five leagues.
- A draw on the night will see PSG earn consecutive stalemates in Ligue 1 for the first time this season since matchday two.
- A win on the night will see Strasbourg record three straight Ligue 1 home wins for the first time since 2019.
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe
The French international scored a blank against Brest but continues to be PSG’s main goal-getter on the night. Mbappe’s pace and ability to glide into space makes him a difficult player to keep quiet and could ensure the Strasbourg defenders are in for a long night.
Patrick Vieira will be well aware of his compatriot’s strengths but does not have a player of the required quality to shut down the PSG man. With a five-man backline in place, it remains to be seen if Mbappe can take the game to their opponents and forge openings for themselves.
Prediction
RC Strasbourg 1-3 PSG
Vieira will aim to be pragmatic and cut off PSG’s frontline from the rest of their starting XI. However, the individual quality of the players at Luis Enrique’s disposal makes that a difficult task over the 90 minutes. The game is likely to be feisty, but PSG should in the end come away with a comfortable win.
