PSG resume their Ligue 1 campaign by hosting Toulouse in Paris, as Luis Enrique will look for an early advantage this weekend.
PSG are in a strong position in this early phase of their Ligue 1 campaign, as they have opened up a six-point advantage at the top ahead of the visit of Toulouse. Luis Enrique will have wanted the recent international break to help his players reclaim their focus and begin a new phase in their campaign, especially in the UEFA Champions League.
PSG brushed aside Angers just before the international break, as they put four past the relegation-threatened side. Lee Kang-in and Bradley Barcola scored a brace each to give PSG a six-point advantage at the summit of the table.
However, Enrique will be eager to see big improvements in their Champions League form, with only one win to show from their four games so far. PSG desperately need to manage that competition well, and the Spanish coach will hope for a comfortable weekend ahead and then look ahead to their clash with Bayern Munich in midweek.
Toulouse have only managed to beat PSG twice in their last 40 games, and the most recent one came last May, when they visited Parc des Princes, as they ran out 3-1 reverse winners. Carles Martinez Novell will hope to bring a similar form to the table and revive their fortunes for the current campaign.
In fact, Toulouse took four points off PSG last season, which will have been seen as a massive improvement. This is a good chance for them to remain unbeaten in three games against PSG for the first time in 15 years.
Toulouse have stayed unbeaten in their last four games in Ligue and won their previous three, as they have climbed up to 10th in the standings. A positive result in Paris will be a good thing for Martinez’s men ahead of a crunch period in their season.
Team News & Tactics
PSG
Luis Enrique will have a strong squad available for the home clash against Toulouse, as Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandes, and Goncalo Ramos are the absentees. Marquinhos should be fit to play despite his late return from the international break, although he misses out because of a one-match ban.
Hence, Lucas Beraldo and Milan Skriniar should be in line to start at the back alongside Achraf Hakimi and Yoram Zague in the full-back roles. In midfield, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha should be the ideal choice to start, although Enrique could rest the latter and use Senny Mayulu in that midfield role instead.
Bradley Barcola should keep his place in the lineup, although Enrique might rest him ahead of Bayern and use Desire Doue instead on the left. Marco Asensio might continue to lead the line for PSG, while Randal Kolo Muani might begin on the right, as the manager is likely to rest Ousmane Dembele as well.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Sofanov; Hakimi, Beraldo, Skriniar, Zague; Neves, Mayulu, Ruiz; Doue, Asensio, Kolo Muani
Toulouse
Toulouse have no reason to change from their setup unless there are injury issues in the squad. Danish defender Rasmus Nicolaisen is the only one having injury trouble on the side.
There are some doubts about the fitness of Mark McKenzie and Gabriel Suazo, although the main reason for the duo’s availability is their late arrival from international games. Beyond that, Carles Martinez Novell will continue his 3-4-3 setup, with Djibril Sidibe, Charlie Cresswell, and Mark McKenzie set for a back-three role.
Joshua King is pencilled in, while Zakaria Aboukhlal and Yann Gboho are also set to be in the attacking setup. Vincent Sierro and Cristian Casseres are set for midfield roles, while Warren Kamanzi and Aron Donnum are in the team as wing-backs.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Restes; Sidibe, Cresswell, McKenzie; Donnum, Casseres Jr, Sierro, Suazo; Aboukhlal, King, Gboho
Key Stats
- PSG are in line to keep consecutive home clean sheets for the first time this year.
- PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season.
- Toulouse are unbeaten in their last four Ligue 1 games.
- Toulouse have won only two times in their last 40 games against PSG.
Player to Watch
Marco Asensio
Luis Enrique continues to look for the right mix in the attacking setup, and he has been consistent with the use of Asensio in that false-nine role. While the Spaniard has been good in this style, there needs to be more ruthless showing from him in front of goal.
With some tough games coming up in the UEFA Champions League, Enrique will want the best from his players, especially his strikers. Hence, Asensio has some pressure on his shoulders to perform, and with Randal Kolo Muani also breathing down his neck in the pecking order, only a top-draw display against Toulouse will be something the Spaniard would want.
Prediction
PSG 3-1 Toulouse
Toulouse might come into this clash at the back of four unbeaten games, with three victories in a row. However, they face a tough challenge in retaking their performance against PSG from May. The chances of them getting a win over the league’s unbeaten team remain remote. But a draw is still a possibility, especially if Martinez’s men manage to take advantage of Enrique’s selections.
As for PSG, they are cruising in Ligue 1, and Luis Enrique will want it kept that way ahead of a period where the Champions League take precedence in their season. Hence, the Parisians are expected to brush aside Toulouse and put all their energy into the midweek clash against Bayern Munich.