Preview: Le Mans vs. Paris Saint-Germain - prediction, team news, lineups

Paris Saint-Germain kick off their Coupe de la Ligue campaign with a trip to Ligue 2 strugglers Le Mans.

The Ligue 1 leaders only made the quarter-final stage last season, losing to eventual runners-up Guingamp.

Match preview

Le Mans are 18th in Ligue 2 and just two points clear of the outright relegation places after 18 games this term.

It has been a tough campaign so far for the second-tier side, who have the joint-most defeats in the division - 11 - as well as the worst defensive record, conceding 32 times already.

However, they have been good going forward, with their 20 strikes the joint-eighth highest total in the league at this stage.

Paris Saint-Germain, though, are heavy favourites in this one. They have a seven-point gap at the top of Ligue 1 and will expect to sweep their lower-league opponents aside with ease.

PSG have hit 39 goals in 17 Ligue 1 games - a competition high so far - and also boast the joint-best defence alongside Reims, conceding a miserly nine goals.

The reigning French champions are on an eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions that includes seven wins and have lost just three times this season, winning a whopping 19 of their 23 competitive games.

PSG won the French top-flight last season but did not win either domestic cup and were knocked out in the last 16 of the Champions League, making for a disappointing campaign by their lofty standards.

As a result, they will be keen to - at the very least - win a domestic cup alongside an improved European run this time around, starting with their two-legged tie against Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund.

Le Mans Ligue 2 form: WDDLLW Le Mans form (all competitions): WDLLWW

Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form: LWWWWW Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions): WDWWWW

Team News

PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel is missing a trio of central players due to thigh injuries.

Midfielders Idrissa Gueye and Ander Herrera, along with centre-back Presnel Kimpembe, are sidelined with problems and are unlikely to be risked.

Julian Draxler is also likely to be missing with illness. However, the German tactician is likely to rotate his side against weaker opposition in any case.

Despite this rotation, big-name forwards such as Kylian Mbappe and Neymar may still feature as they look to add yet more goals to their personal tallies.

Meanwhile, Le Mans boss Richard Dezire has the luxury of being able to field a full-strength side, with no significant injury doubts to contend with.

Le Mans possible starting lineup: Patron; Vardin, Musavu-King, Lemonnier, Duponchelle; Boissier, Boe-Kane, Confais; Diarra, Moussiti-Oko, Manzala

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup: Rico; Dagba, Kehrer, Kouassi, Kurzawa; Paredes, Sarabia; Mbappe, Neymar; Choupo-Moting, Cavani

We say: Le Mans 0-4 Paris Saint-Germain

Given that the team with the worst defence in Ligue 2 is facing off against the side with the most prolific attack in Ligue 1, a fairly comfortable scoreline for PSG is expected, even with potential changes to personnel.