Paris Saint-Germain will return to domestic comfort as they make the trip to take on a struggling Angers SCO side threading near the relegation zone.
A few weeks ago, Angers SCO, who face PSG this weekend, were showing proper relegation form, as many considered them automatic favourites to go down. However, Alexandre Dujeux’s men have shown a massive upturn in form over the last few games, having collected eight points in four games to move out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
The goal difference between them and 16th-placed Saint-Etienne is massive and unlikely to be overtaken. However, there is every chance for the Angers to lose their game against PSG, and then the 16th and 17th-placed sides win their games, then Dujeux’s men will find themselves back in the bottom three.
However, Dujeux’s men have shown in recent games they cannot be underestimated. Since their loss to OGC Nice, Angers have lost just once in Ligue 1 in seven games. In that run, they drew away from home to title-chasing Marseille. Last weekend, they recorded yet another big away result with a slender win over third-placed AS Monaco, which ensured they won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
On Saturday, as Angers play hosts, there is only one winner on paper, and that is Paris Saint-Germain. Luis Enrique’s men will be hurting following their last-gasp UEFA Champions League loss against Atletico Madrid at home. The Spanish side had Angel Correa netting a winner with virtually the last kick of the game.
That defeat ensured PSG were pushed out of the top 24 in the Champions League table, as they are now 25th in the standings. Enrique would have been raging, but making amends in the European competition is for another day, as he has to switch back the focus to Ligue 1 matters.
PSG have won their last two away games by a big margin, with the most recent one coming against Marseille. The Parisians thrashed their title rivals by a 3-0 reverse scoreline. In fact, PSG are on a strong, unbeaten run of 29 Ligue 1 games, and Angers could well be their next victim.
Team News & Tactics
Angers SCO
With Angers coming into this contest on consecutive league victories, Alexandre Dujeux has no reason to make any drastic changes to his lineup. Moreover, the Angers coach has no new injuries or suspension problems, meaning we could see a similar setup that recorded a narrow win over AS Monaco.
Some are already on the sidelines, with Cedric Hountondji, Zinedine Ferhat, Sidiki Cherif, and Joseph Lopy unavailable. The Angers quartet is set to stay out of the PSG clash.
Dujeux will play a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Yassin Belkhdim and Jean-Eudes Aholou stationed in central midfield. A back four of Carlens Arcus, Jordan Lefort, Emmanuel Biumla, and Florent Hanin will start on Saturday. In the attacking third, Jim Allevinah, Himad Abdelli and Farid El Melali will all be stationed in support of central striker Bamba Dieng.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Fofana; Arcus, Lefort, Biumla, Hanin; Belkhdim, Aholou; Allevinah, Abdelli, Melali; Dieng
Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique can call upon Lucas Beraldo after the defender served his one-match suspension in the win over Lens. Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez are long-term absentees from the backline.
There is further bad news on the injury front: Goncalo Ramos has been ruled out until at least 2025 and has been missing since suffering an ankle injury in the opening game of PSG’s Ligue 1 season against Le Havre.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was blamed for the loss to Atletico Madrid to an extent, and this could make Enrique think about giving Matvey Safonov another chance between the sticks, as the manager did for the last league game.
Enrique might also bring Randal Kolo Muani back into the attack and start him in the central striker role by replacing Marco Asensio, who was ineffective against Atletico Madrid in midweek. Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele are likely to retain their spots in the final third on either wing.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Barcola
Key Stats
- Angers are unbeaten in six of their last seven Ligue 1 games.
- Angers have won their last two Ligue 1 games.
- PSG are unbeaten in 29 away games in Ligue 1.
- PSG have won their last 16 matches against Angers in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Randal Kolo Muani
Kolo Muani has a big point to prove regarding his status as a regular starter, something he has not managed to achieve this season. Before the campaign began, Kylian Mbappe’s exit would have raised the expectation that Kolo Muani would be the automatic starter to share the goalscoring burden. But with two goals in seven Ligue 1 games, that has not been the case.
Moreover, Luis Enrique has preferred Asensio as his regular starter in the centre-forward role, which has seen Kolo Muani’s immediate future called into question. While things have worked in the league with Marco Asensio leading the line, the game against Angers might be a chance for Kolo Muani to show the manager he’s a better target man than the Spaniard, as the 25-year-old has not played in the last two league games.
Prediction
Angers 1-3 PSG
Angers have shown a knack for playing well against the big teams in Ligue 1, and that might be the case against PSG on Saturday. However, they are not very prolific and will come into this clash under pressure to open up a gap with the other relegation teams, meaning they have to get a result.
PSG, on the other hand, will be hurting after their Champions League, which will come as bad news for Angers. Enrique will be eager to see a smashing performance from his side and ensure they maintain their tremendous Ligue 1 away run, as they are the favourites to take three points away at Angers.
