Paris Saint-Germain will expect a return to winning ways on Wednesday when they host a struggling Angers side at the Parc des Princes.
Christophe Galtier’s side fell 3-1 to high-flying Lens last time out in Ligue 1 and came perilously close to a Coupe de France scare against third-tier side Chateauroux, needing two late goals to eke out a victory.
By the Parisians’ high standards, the past week has not been good enough and they’ll plan to take their frustrations out on an Angers side who sit bottom of the table with just eight points to their name after 17 games – 36 behind league-leaders PSG.
Here’s all you need to know about this one.
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PSG team news
Lionel Messi is back from his World Cup celebrations and, having been in training for over a week, is likely to return straight to the starting lineup. How’s that for a solution to their recent struggles?
He’ll be joined in attack by Neymar, who has served his suspension, but PSG have lost Achraf Hakimi to his own one-game ban. Presnel Kimpembe, Renato Sanches and Nuno Mendes are all injured.
(4-3-1-2): Donnarumma; Mukiele, Marquinhos, Ramos, Bernat; Vitinha, Verratti, Fabian; Messi; Mbappe, Neymar
All eyes are on Moroccan World Cup star Azzedine Ounahi, who is of interest to PSG and may be left out of the starting lineup for this one.
Another Qatar star, Sofiane Boufal, is back in training but there were no signs of Ilyes Chetti, Farid El Melali, Yan Valery, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, Ibrahim Amadou and Halid Sabanavic in a recent training session. Zinedine Ould Khaled and Yahia Fofana both trained away from the main group.
(4-2-3-1): Bernardoni; Bamba, Hountondji, Blazic, Doumbia; Mendy, Bentaleb; El Melali, Hunou, Thioub; Sima
PSG’s recent wobbles will almost certainly come to an end thanks to the returns of both Messi and Neymar, who will be licking their lips at the idea of racking up goals and assists against Ligue 1’s bottom side.
Angers have lost nine league games on the bounce, many of which came against sides chasing PSG at the top of the table. They’ve conceded 19 goals across that run and will almost certainly see that tally take a massive jump up after Wednesday’s game.
This could get ugly.
Prediction: PSG 5-0 Angers
Credit: 90min.com
