Paris Saint-Germain welcome FC Nantes to the Parc des Princes on Saturday before their massive UEFA Champions League trip to Manchester City. Neymar Jr is in the treatment room but Sergio Ramos is now close to finally making his Paris debut.
Paris Saint-Germain - FC Nantes Saturday at 17:00 CET (1600 GMT)
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The first game back after an international break always brings headaches to the Paris Saint-Germain coach. Mauricio Pochettino may be delighted that his native Argentina have qualified for next year’s World Cup but he also would have been waiting anxiously to see what state many of his key players were in as they returned from duty with their countries.
He has been without a whole squad’s worth of talent over the last two weeks, including his compatriots Lionel Messi, Ángel di María and Leandro Paredes, who all helped Argentina to a 0-0 draw against Brazil in San Juán that sealed their spot in Qatar. However, Neymar missed that game because of an adductor problem that forced him to return to Paris early. That is a real source of concern. The Brazilian looked like he was back close to his best when he netted twice in PSG’s 3-2 win at Girondins de Bordeaux in their last game a fortnight ago. Now he is expected to play no part against Nantes.
Meanwhile Presnel Kimpembe and Marco Verratti have been working to recover from the injuries that saw them miss out on representing their countries in World Cup qualifying action, and there have been whispers that Spanish centre-back Ramos could even be named in the squad for the game at the Parc des Princes.
Round 13 highlights: Neymar stars in win at Bordeaux
Ten points clear
Whoever takes to the field against Les Canaris, the Parisians will be expected to maintain their unbeaten record at home this season which has seen them win eight games out of eight in all competitions. That will allow them, at least provisionally, to extend their 10-point lead at the top of the table over second-placed RC Lens, who are in action on Sunday.
That is a big gap for a side that has often been criticised this season for not playing to its perceived potential, even in victory. “At PSG the project is to win and to win now. Without results you can’t expect to get to the point where you are playing the kind of football we all want. We all want to play great football and win 5-0,” Pochettino told Friday’s edition of sports daily L’Equipe.
After the visit of Nantes, Pochettino and his side be able to give full attention to their Champions League date in Manchester on Wednesday, when PSG probably need to win if they are to top Group A and give themselves a theoretically kinder draw in the last 16. A win will also confirm their qualification for the next phase with one group game to spare, while defeat would see City clinch top spot. It might not be the be-all and end-all, but there is plenty riding on that game.
Round 13 highlights: Nantes play out draw with Strasbourg
Messi to play?
So much so that Pochettino could well choose to keep Messi back for the trip to the Etihad Stadium. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has so far featured in just five Ligue 1 Uber Eats games for his new club without scoring. In contrast he has three in three Champions League outings and has played seven times for Argentina since September.
Fans at the Parc des Princes might be desperate to catch a glimpse of Messi, not to mention be there when he does eventually get his first Ligue 1 goal. Nantes, in contrast, would be quite pleased to see him missing from the team-sheet. Les Canaris head to the capital sitting safely in mid-table, closer to the podium in terms of points than they are to the relegation zone. Antoine Kombouaré’s side have won just one of their last four outings after twice throwing away the lead to draw 2-2 at home to RC Strasbourg Alsace in their last game before the international break.
Nantes seek repeat of last season
The visitors will be without centre-back Nicolas Pallois, who is suspended, but they are dreaming of a repeat of last season, when they stunned PSG by winning 2-1 at the Parc des Princes, albeit in an empty stadium.
“Obviously we would love to do something great in Paris again,” Malian international defender Charles Traoré, who was born in the Paris suburbs, told FCNantes.com. “That is what is beautiful in our sport. It is not an exact science when it comes to who is the favourite. Everything is possible, so why not do it again?!”
Probable teams
Paris SG: To follow
Nantes: To follow