Having sealed a place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League in emphatic fashion in midweek, Paris Saint-Germain resume Ligue 1 duties on Saturday afternoon as Troyes visit the Parc des Princes.
Les Parisiens thumped Maccabi Haifa 7-2 in Europe in midweek, while ESTAC took advantage of some error-strewn Lorient defending to draw 2-2 with the surprise package last week.
Match preview
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The talented triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar hit new heights as PSG ran riot against Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Christophe Galtier's side putting seven past the fearless Israeli champions to guarantee their rightful place in the last 16.
Messi ended the game with two goals and two assists, Mbappe boasted an identical tally, while Neymar also had one goal and one assist to his name in a Paris romping. Carlos Soler and a Sean Goldberg own goal also contributed to PSG's offensive effort, although Maccabi Haifa defender Abdoulaye Seck left with a memorable brace of his own.
Now able to take their foot off the gas in Europe for the time being - although top spot in Group H is not yet sealed - the French champions will endeavour to make it three wins on the bounce in Ligue 1, and their closest challengers for the title at this moment in time are, rather surprisingly, Lens and Lorient.
PSG have opened up a five-point gap over both sides at the top of the table - which could be cut to two if Lens beat Toulouse on Friday - having dropped just four points from their 11 matches, and it is hardly a shock to see Galtier's men leading the way in goals scored (32) and conceded (a league-low five) in their bid to retain their domestic crown.
Interestingly, only 10 of PSG's 32 league goals this term have come at the Parc des Princes, but their unbeaten run in all competitions now stands at a whopping 27 matches - coincidentally the same as their current run without defeat at home in Ligue 1.
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Twice Troyes found themselves in front against Lorient, and twice they were pegged back by the early-season pace-setters, but holding the second-placed team in Ligue 1 to a score draw is no mean feat for ESTAC.
Julien Laporte's own goal preceded a terrible attempt at a backpass from Montassar Talbi, which Rony Lopes gratefully gobbled up, but well-taken goals from Stephane Diarra and Quentin Boisgard ensured that the contest at the Stade de l'Aube last weekend would end level.
Bruno Irles's side have not been ones to shy away from goal-laden encounters this season, but having now gone four games without a win - drawing three of them - ESTAC find themselves 11th in the table, four points clear of the four-team relegation zone.
The visitors should no doubt be satisfied with their mid-table standing after only earning promotion to the big time in 2021, and scoring 10 goals in their last five games is a reason for optimism, but they are still looking for their first clean sheet of the season, which is highly unlikely to come at the home of the champions.
Troyes remarkably held PSG to a 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes back in May, although the hosts already had the title in the bag by that point, and it has been nearly 21 years since ESTAC beat the reigning champions in any competition - prevailing 1-0 at home in November 2001.
Team News
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With Marco Verratti back from a European suspension for the visit of Troyes, only Danilo Pereira should be absent for the champions this week, as the Portuguese midfielder aims to return to training from a hamstring injury this weekend.
Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes were both back in the squad for the visit of Maccabi Haifa and ought to be considered for starts here, while Sergio Ramos has also served a two-game domestic ban and will be considered for a place.
Despite his recent shift to a back four to cope with his side's multitude of defensive absentees, Galtier has affirmed that the three-man backline is still an option, and that setup could be deployed here given Kimpembe and Ramos's returns.
As for Troyes, Karim Azamoum is not quite ready to make his comeback from a devastating ACL injury, while Lucien Agoume's muscular problem has also rendered him doubtful for the match.
Irles has no fresh concerns to contend with since last weekend's draw with Lorient, where veteran defender Adil Rami asked to be left out of the squad, and it remains to be seen if the 36-year-old will be back here.
Troyes snapped up 17-year-old attacker Wilson Odobert from PSG in the summer, and the teenager - who already has three goals to his name this term - should start against his old club.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Ramos, Marquinhos, Kimpembe; Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Mendes; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar
Troyes possible starting lineup:
Lis; T. Balde, Palmer-Brown, Porozo, Salmier, Larouci; Lopes, Kouame, Chavalerin, Odobert; M. Balde
We say: Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Troyes
One must give credit where credit is due to Troyes after holding Lorient to just a point last weekend, but both of their goals came from defensive errors, and PSG should not give much change away in that regard.
A back five from the visitors could serve to frustrate the champions a tad, but the Messi, Mbappe and Neymar trident should be up to their old tricks to steer PSG to a routine win on home soil.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
