AC Ajaccio - Paris Saint-Germain

Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

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Paris can open up a seven-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 Uber Eats if they beat promoted AC Ajaccio - as is expected - at their Stade François Coty on Friday.

PSG have looked a formidable force since Christophe Galtier succeeded Mauricio Pochettino as coach in the summer, winning nine of their 11 games and drawing the other two to sit top of the league as the only undefeated side.

Classique victory

They were run quite close by Olympique de Marseille in le Classique last Sunday, with Neymar's striker on the stroke of half-time proving enough to separate the sides.

The Brazilian has now scored nine goals and assisted seven more for a goal-involvement every 52 minutes he has played in the French top-flight this season, but he is missing on Friday, as is Ramos, who was red carded in the goalless draw at Stade de Reims two weeks ago.

Watch: Highlights of PSG's 1-0 win over Marseille

PSG might have been expected to rotate some anyway, with the opportunity to punch their ticket into the UEFA Champions League knock-out stages with victory over Maccabi Haifa on Tuesday, but Kylian Mbappé is expected to start after dismissing claims he is unhappy.

"I'm very happy," he told French radio station RMC Sport. "I never asked for my departure in January. I was just as shocked as everyone else [by claims in the media to the contrary].

Mbappé: 'very happy'

"My entourage was at my little brother's game, all the people who take care of me weren't there, so we were flabbergasted when we heard about it. Afterwards, we had to deal with it, there was a game to play. Just to say that it is completely wrong, and I'm very happy."

That little brother is 15-year-old wonder-kid Ethan, but PSG's rotation on Friday is unlikely to stretch quite that far. Alongside Ramos, Galtier is without centre-backs Presnel Kimpembe and Danilo Pereira due to thigh injuries, so Nordi Mukiele is likely to start alongside Marquinhos in a back four.

Rotation

Nuno Mendes (hamstring) and Renato Sanches (knock) are also missing, whilst Marco Verratti one booking away from a suspension but expected to feature.

Ajaccio haven't beaten PSG in six meetings since a shock 4-2 win at the Parc des Princes back in May 2006, when Kamel Chafni bagged a brace against a side which - whilst preceding the Qatari-backed era by five years - still included Pauleta and Mario Yepes among others.

Watch: Highlights of Ajaccio's 1-1 draw at Troyes

Ajaccio have only spent four of the seasons since in the French top-flight, but they returned as runners-up to Toulouse FC in Ligue 2 BKT last season, and recent performances suggest they are readjusting to life in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, with last Sunday's 1-1 draw at ESTAC Troye the third time in four games they have picked up points.

Galtier's opposite number Olivier Pantaloni was even disappointed not to take all three last time out.

Pantaloni: 'room to do better'

"I'm relieved to have equalised because we had a decent match," he said. "I'm unsatisfied compared to what we did at the Stade Vélodrome last week [a 2-1 win over Olympique de Marseille]. It's a good point, but one that leaves is with some regrets because there was room to do better."

Ajaccio are without Romain Hamouma, Yoann Touzghar and Qazim Laçi due to knee, ankle and hamstring injuries respectively. Mounaïm El Idrissy is, like Verratti, one booking away from a suspension but will almost certainly lead the line.

Possible teams

Ajaccio: Leroy; Youssouf, Gonzalez, Avinel, Koné; Nouri, Marchetti, Coutadeur, Spadanuda; El Idrissy, Moussiti-Oko

PSG: Donnaruma; Hakimi, Mukiele, Marquinhos, Bernat; Ruiz, Verratti, Vitinha; Sarabia, Messi; Mbappé