Ligue 1 returns to our screens following the international break on Friday night as Paris Saint host Nice at Parc des Princes.
It was a summer of change for the perennial French champions as they parted ways with superstars Neymar and Lionel Messi while letting go of another manager. Luis Enrique is now steering the ship in the capital and his reign has got off to a promising start.
Les Parisiens have won two of their opening four Ligue 1 games, drawing their first two, and sit just behind Adi Hutter’s impressive Monaco in second.
Nice, meanwhile, have also enjoyed an unbeaten start but didn’t claim their first win until Matchday 4 following three successive draws.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Friday night’s Ligue 1 bout.
PSG vs Nice H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 1, discovery+, discovery+ App |
|
United States |
Fanatiz USA, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT |
|
Canada |
beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN Sports Canada, beIN SPORTS CONNECT Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fanatiz Canada |
Enrique is set to be without several players for Friday’s game, with Marco Asensio, Lee Kang-in, Juan Bernat and Nuno Mendes all likely to miss out with injuries.
On a brighter note, Presnel Kimpembe is back in training following a lengthy injury layoff, while Nordi Mukiele is also closing in on a return.
Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele are poised to team up in the front three, while there could be a debut for Randal Kolo Muani. Although, fellow summer arrival Goncalo Ramos is more likely to get the nod up top.
PSG predicted lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Fabian, Ugarte, Vitinha; Dembele, Ramos, Mbappe.
The visitors have a couple of injuries to contend with and are set to be without Khephren Thuram for Friday night’s encounter. The French midfielder was subject to plenty of transfer speculation over the summer but remained at Nice.
Alexis Claude Maurice (calf) and Antoine Mendy (knee) are also sidelined.
Former Atalanta star Jeremie Boga is vying for a start done the left flank, while Jean-Clair Todibo will return from international duty with France to marshal Nice’s defence alongside veteran Dante.
Nice predicted lineup (4-3-3): Bulka; Atal, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Sanson, Ndayishimiye, Boudaoui; Laborde, Moffi, Diop.
Friday will be a chess match between Enrique and exciting young Italian coach Francesco Farioli. While PSG will seek to control and dominate the contest, Nice will hope to enjoy as much of the ball as they can.
Nice’s style, however, could play into the hosts’ hands. Instead of sitting in a compact block, the visitors will attempt to regain possession high up the pitch and play out from the back themselves. Should any pressing or build-up sequence go awry, there will be a haven of space for Mbappe and Dembele to exploit.
PSG, meanwhile, are built to mitigate such threats in the build-up phase. Enrique is a master of coaching possession play and the hosts should have plenty of success against a fine Nice side on Friday. An entertaining contest is in store.
