Julian Draxler has admitted that "it's really difficult" for Paris Saint-Germain as the Ligue 1 Uber Eats champions aim to maintain their fragile momentum behind closed doors at OGC Nice on Sunday (kick-off 1:00pm CEST/11:00am GMT).
Following back-to-back defeats to open their 2020-21 title defence, PSG picked up their first points of the campaign thanks to Draxler's added-time goal with seconds left of Wednesday's rescheduled Round 1 fixture at home to FC Metz.
It was achieved without the suspended Neymar and Layvin Kurzawa, and a self-isolating Kylian Mbappé, while it also saw left-back Juan Bernat sustain a serious knee injury that is likely to sideline him for the majority of the season.
With the truncated 2019-20 season and their extended UEFA Champions League run, PSG had barely any preparation coming into the new campaign, which — Draxler says — explains their current difficulties.
WATCH: What happened when PSG went to Nice last season
"I know that saying and repeating that it's going to be complicated can be hard for the fans to hear, but after a season like this, and without pre-season, it's really difficult," said the Germany international, who is likely to start again in midfield against Nice.
"We will go there trying to win, as usual, because we are Paris Saint-Germain. We're going to give it our all on the pitch. We'll see who's capable of playing. We have to work now to be ready on Sunday."
"That goal at the end of the game was a relief," admitted captain Marquinhos, who had missed PSG's opening two matches while self-isolating. "After two defeats, a draw would have been hard to take. We played a good game, we created a lot of chances, we managed to win the ball high up the pitch. But as against Marseille, we had to make it count on the scoreboard.
"Julian's goal did us good. Football changes very quickly, our role in defence is to keep the team focused. We must remain aggressive and concentrated so as not to concede a goal, and motivate our strikers to score."
Angel Di Maria — one of PSG's clutch of high-profile COVID-19 cases — was in rare form against Metz in midweek, and provided the cross for Draxler's matchwinner. He could link up with Mbappé if French government regulations are — as has been mooted — revised in time, though Mauro Icardi will take the central role if not with Pablo Sarabia completing the front three.
Nice have won just one of their last 14 league meetings with the powerhouse from the capital, and Patrick Vieira's men come into the game with their confidence dented.
After successive wins to start the season, Nice were outplayed and outfought by Montpellier Hérault SC last weekend as Téji Savanier inspired his team to a 3-1 victory that would have been much more convincing but for Nice goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
Vieira will be without last season's leading scorer Kasper Dolberg, winger Alexis Claude-Maurice and former PSG full-back Stanley Nsoki after the trio all tested positive for COVID-19 during the week.
Amine Gouiri, the summer signing from Olympique Lyonnais who has hit the ground running on the Côte d'Azur, is likely to return to the starting line-up after a back injury confined him to a substitute's role against Montpellier where he set up Dante's consolation strike.
Vieira's men, who finished sixth last season, have shown remarkable efficiency, netting their first five shots on target of the campaign, and they will need that clinical edge and the sort of indomitable spirit their coach showed during his playing career to have a hope of picking up only a second home win in eight against PSG, especially as they will now play the game behind closed doors following a tightening of restrictions on Friday due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the local area.
"There are a lot of factors to take into account, especially now with this pandemic when things can change very quickly, but for me, the most important thing is to not be afraid our our opponent, to play our game and show that we too can play and have ambitions," explained Nice defender Andy Pelmard.
"We started the season well, because the points are the most important thing. In those two wins, there were some good things, but also some mistakes. Certain things are still being put in place. The squad is still quite new and we're going to get used to each other. But the most important thing is to have a good attitude, the right motivation and to always go out onto the pitch to do your best."
Probable teams
Nice: to follow
PSG: to follow
