RC Strasbourg Alsace - Paris Saint-Germain

- kick-off: 19:00 GMT

PSG regained the title of French champions from LOSC last Saturday, with Lionel Messi scoring a wondergoal in a 1-1 draw with RC Lens, which put 13 points between the capital club and nearest challengers Olympique de Marseille with just 12 left to play for.

A persistent calf injury has interrupted Ramos's progress since his summer arrival from Real Madrid, but Spain's record appearance maker has now started the last two PSG games with Mauricio Pochettino shifting to a back three, scoring in last Wednesday's 3-0 win at Angers SCO.

Season goals

With Paris knocked out of both the UEFA Champions League and the Coupe de France at the last 16 stage this season, pressure has been mounting on Pochettino, though, while Messi and Ramos have also drawn some criticism.

Watch: Highlights of PSG's 1-1 draw with Lens

Messi's strike against Lens means he has had a goal-involvement every 105 minutes in the league since his summer move from Barcelona, however (four goals and 13 assists), while he added five in seven Champions League games. Ramos plans to catch up with his former Clasico rival.

"I've spent too few hours on the pitch this season in the PSG jersey," he told PSG's official website. "I'm at the prime of my career and eager to show my new team, Paris Saint-Germain, how much football I have inside me.

"My big goal celebration against Angers was a reflection of the sacrifice I've had to make."

Defensive strength

Ramos is likely to start at the heart of a back three once again at the Stade de la Meinau, with Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe for company. There could be rotation elsewhere, however, with Pochettino's hand forced in the case of suspended midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

Mauro Icardi (thigh), Leandro Paredes (groin), Julian Draxler (knee) remain injury absentees, although Abdou Diallo has made a tentative return to training after a knee complaint.

Whilst PSG are favourites on Friday, Strasbourg are unlikely to lie down for the champions. Julien Stéphan's side are only one point from OGC Nice who occupy the fifth and final European place, and last Sunday's 1-0 loss to LOSC was their first defeat in 12 games.

Watch: Highlights of Strasbourg's 1-0 loss at Lille

Strasbourg may not have beaten PSG since December 2017 when Stéphane Bahoken - now of Angers SCO - struck the winner in a 2-1 victory at the Stade de la Meinau, but Stéphan is keen to get that monkey off his side's back, with the plan to attack on Friday.

"We won't change our approach," said Pochettino's opposite number. "I want uninhibited, ambitious players who press the opponent. I want my time to approach this game in the same way as they have the others. We focus on ourselves and what we're capable of doing.

'Play our own game'

"We had no complex when we Rennes, Nice, Lyon or Monaco. We're still pushing our players, but we have to focus on ourselves and play our own game."

Stéphan will have to make some changes, though. Captain Dimitri Liénard is out with a thigh injury while midfielder Jean-Eudès Aholou has a concussion. Frédéric Guilbert is expected to line up at right wing-back with Anthony Caci switching flanks.

Possible teams

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

Strasbourg: Sels; Guilbert, Perrin, Nyamsi, Djiku, Caci; Thomasson, Sossoko, Bellegarde; Ajorque, Gameiro