Two sides on opposite ends of the table clash on Saturday as PSG can potentially wrap up the Ligue-1 title with a win over relegation-threatened Saint-Etienne.
Saint-Etienne will enter another weekend sitting inside the relegation zone, although there is some positive news ahead of the game against PSG. The league are set to finalise the verdict on the abandonment of the match between Montpellier and Saint-Etienne on March 16, when the home fans threw flares on the pitch while further causing a fire in the stands.
At that point, Saint-Etienne were leading the game 2-0 with 62 minutes played, and Eirik Horneland’s men are likely to be handed all three points. Should that go towards Saint-Etienne’s way, there will be immediate relief in their battle to avoid relegation as they could climb above Le Havre and go level on points with Stade de Reims, although the massive goal difference could keep them below them in the standings.
In any case, the chances of the investigative team handing Saint-Etienne three points are higher than Horneland’s team achieving that against the Parisians. The relegation-threatened side are set to take on runaway leaders PSG in a huge clash with massive ramifications for either side.
Luis Enrique’s plan seems to be going on track, as PSG are in a tremendous position to wrap up the Ligue 1 title as early as this weekend if things go their way. So, the Parisians will have to win as well as hope Marseille lose and AS Monaco at least suffer a draw, which would help them clinch the second-earliest Ligue 1 title in history.
Enrique will not care about those records and he will hope his team wins on Saturday, as the other results are out of his hands. The main cause for the Spanish manager is to focus on the upcoming UEFA Champions League game, as that is where PSG will be eager to thrive with the Ligue 1 title more or less won.
Team News & Tactics
Saint-Etienne
Eirik Horneland could be without a few of his first team players such as Augustine Boakye and Aimen Moueffek with the dup in significant doubts for the upcoming clash, while Ben Old is out with a knee problem.
Igor Miladinovic will miss out with a suspension for this clash, and the Saint-Etienne manager will likely set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape for this home clash with PSG. Pierre Ekwah and Mickael Nade are the preferred central defenders, with Yvann Macon and Leo Petrot stationed in the full-back roles.
Moueffek is expected to be fit despite the doubts around his participation as he partners Maxime Bernauer in the middle of the park. Irvin Cardona and Zuriko Davitashvili will play the wide roles, while Benjamin Bouchouari will be in the No.10 role behind key star Lucas Stassin.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1); Larsonneur; Macon, Ekwah, Nade, Petrot; Moueffek, Bernauer; Cardona, Bouchouari, Davitashvili; Stassin
PSG
Luis Enrique only has to worry about the fitness of Lee Kang-in, with the attacker missing the South Korean games with an ongoing ankle issue. Beyond that, the PSG manager has a full squad to choose from, and if he wants, there will be a lot of rotations to keep the pack fresh for the Champions League games.
With the Champions League clash with Aston Villa still a bit far away, Enrique will want to keep his main players sharp, meaning there could be a start for most key stars. Gianluigi Donnarumma will start between the sticks, and the Italian will have a back four of in front of him. Achraf Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, and Willian Pacho pick themselves, while Enrique might rest Nuno Mendes and select Lucas Hernandez in the left-back slot.
Marquinhos might also be rested, although there might be the case that the skipper starts and wins his tenth Ligue 1 title. Enrique’s midfield will consist of Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz, although Warren Zaire-Emery also has a chance to feature there.
For the time being, the PSG manager might continue to deploy his best attackers in the frontline with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembele featuring in the final third. So, Goncalo Ramos and Desire Doue might start next weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Beraldo, Pacho, Hernandez; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Barcola
Key Stats
- Paris Saint-Germain are undefeated in their last 28 matches in Ligue 1.
- Paris Saint-Germain are undefeated in their last 27 matches against Saint-Etienne in all competitions.
- Paris Saint-Germain have scored at least three goals in six of their last seven matches in Ligue 1.
- Saint-Etienne are winless in their last nine Ligue 1 games.
Player to Watch
Ousmane Dembele
Dembele is by far the most improved star this season for PSG, and the manager would want to see him shining between now and the end of the campaign on all fronts. The French winger has been deployed in a more central role by Luis Enrique and so far the move has paid dividends.
Dembele is probably the player that Enrique and PSG fans will want to stay fit for the whole season or whatever is left of it. The primary focus remains on the Champions League, and Enrique will want to manage his minutes well as well as give him the freedom to express. So, the Saint-Etienne game will come at a good time for the attacker to shine.
Prediction
Saint-Etienne 0-3 PSG
Saint-Etienne are coming on the back of a dreadful run of nine winless games in Ligue 1 alone, and while they are seemingly entitled to the three points in the abandoned game against Montpellier, their overall form has not been good enough. However, they have the chance to cause a major upset, although that might not be the case against PSG.
PSG are unlikely to come into this clash under any pressure, as they can express themselves thoroughly and potentially clinch the Ligue 1 title early. Luis Enrique may not want to see his team play at 100 miles an hour in these games considering the Champions League is around the corner, the Parisians have enough quality to beat Saint-Etienne even in second gear, something they will do so on Saturday.
