PSG-Nantes is a match in the 26th day of Ligue 1 and is played on Saturday at 21:00: stats, probable formations, predictions.
The sun seems to be shining again on Psg’s headquarters after their Ligue 1 double success against Lille and Marseille. A few days ago tension was slicing through the Parisian dressing room following three consecutive defeats between the national cup, the league and the Champions League, with coach Christophe Galtier ending up in the dock.
But the former Lille and Nice coach only needed to rely on two absolute phenomena such as Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, a pair that has proved to be ‘illegal’, to leave the negative moment behind and look to the future with greater serenity. The French and Argentine champions have been the undisputed protagonists of the last two victories: first the crazy comeback against Lille, who won 3-2 at the Parc des Princes just two minutes from the final whistle; then the resounding success in Le Classique against Marseille, scrambled 3-0 at the Velodrome thanks to the goals of the two players who played against each other in the last World Cup final. Galtier’s decision to switch to a three-man defence is paying dividends: Psg, despite the many absences, have rediscovered balance in the non-possession phase and up front the two Martians are free to invent and disorientate the opposing defence.
Psg on the shoulders of Mbappé and Messi
In the league the situation is back to ‘normal’: the success with Marseille not only repulsed the assault of Tudor’s men, but also allowed the reigning champions to move up to +8 on second place. The best way to approach the key match of the season: the return match of the Champions League round of 16 against Bayern Munich.
Blas
Next week Psg will be called upon to overturn the 0-1 first leg in Munich and another elimination would not be tolerable. Galtier will therefore expand his rotation in the Ligue 1 clash with Nantes, fresh from their Coupe de France round-robin success. After dropping out of the Europa League via Juventus, Antoine Kombouare’s yellow-greens fell at home to Rennes (0-1), but last Wednesday they won 2-1 over Lens, snatching a pass to the semi-finals of the national cup, of which they are the holders. In the league, however, they seem to be on their way to a quiet salvation.
The Prediction
In spite of the important defections of Verratti (disqualified), Neymar (injured) and Hakimi – the Moroccan could remain on the bench after being accused of sexual assault – Psg are still big favourites against Nantes, who seem to have little to say in the league and have a considerable lead over the relegation zone. The total goals are likely to be at least three.
PSG v Nantes likely line-up
- PSG (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos, Danilo Pereira; Mukiele, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Zaïre-Emery, Nuno Mendes; Messi, Mbappé.
- NANTES (4-2-3-1): Lafont; Centonze, Castelletto, Girotto, Hadjam; Chirivella, Moutoussamy; Blas, Mollet, Simon; Delort.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-0
