Paris Saint-Germain - FC Lorient

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It has been a difficult spell for runaway league leaders PSG. Beaten 1-0 by OGC Nice in Round 27, they were then knocked out of the UEFA Champions League last 16 after a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid. Although they beat Girondins de Bordeaux 3-0 in their following game, they duly lost by the same scoreline to AS Monaco last time out.

Messi and Mbappé ready to fire?

In short: the international break could not have come soon enough. PSG's stars spent the period impressing with their countries; Messi scoring against Venezuela for already-qualified Argentina in what could plausibly be his last FIFA World Cup qualifier played on home soil, while Mbappé scored twice and assisted one more in France's 5-0 friendly thrashing of South Africa.

Mauricio Pochettino could really do with that pair and Neymar firing on all cylinders, for optic purposes as much as anything give Paris's 12-point lead in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, but he looks likely to be without Sergio Ramos at the Parc des Prince, the Spaniard's fitness one of the few topics he has been quoted on in recent days.

Watch: Highlights of PSG's 3-0 loss in Monaco

"He's disappointed and frustrated," the coach said of his centre-back, who has only managed two league starts since his summer switch from Real Madrid due to a persistent calf injury. "We're trying to help him with all the resources we have at our disposal. He's the one who is suffering the most in this situation."

Ramos is not alone on the likely injury absentee list. Keylor Navas has flu, while Angel Di Maria (thigh), Juan Bernat (calf) and Layvin Kurzawa (back) are all unlikely to feature for the capital club. Neymar and Presnel Kimpembe are each one booking away from a suspension, but Pochettino is likely to name a full-strength side with another domestic win beginning to look overdue.

Deceptively good

Lorient make the 500-kilometre journey east to Paris with their hosts significantly north of them in the table; the Bretons currently in 16th with 37 fewer points than PSG.

However, les Merlus have picked up seven of the last 12 possible points in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, climbing five points clear of the automatic relegation places. They also held Paris to a 1-1 draw in December, a 91st-minute Mauro Icardi goal sparing Paris's blushes after Thomas Monconduit's first-half opener.

Watch: Highlights of Lorient's goalless draw with Strasbourg

With Nigeria midfielder Bonke Innocent suspended, Monconduit could find himself lining up in a deeper role at the Parc des Princes, but Pochettino's opposite number Christophe Pélissier isn't too worried about missing players ahead of Sunday's meeting.

All hands on deck... almost

"Apart from Stéphane Diarra, everyone is on board," he said. "The players on international duty won't return until the day before the PSG match. It's always like that after an international period. We'll see what their physical condition is. We'll check in with them at the end of the week. I can't say right now if they'll be there."

Innocent may not have been an issue either way given his disciplinary punishment, but Pélissier will be keen to field the likes of Ibrahima Koné and Dango Ouattara, even if they have been on international duty with Mali and Burkina Faso respectively.

Possible teams

PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Mendes; Paredes, Pereira, Verratti; Messi, Mbappé, Neymar

Lorient: Dreyer; Mendes, Laporte, Petrot, Le Goff; Monconduit; Ouattara, Le Fée, Abergel, Laurienté; Moffi