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Mbappé struck twice in last weekend's 3-0 Classique defeat of Marseille to move level on 200 goals for the capital club with Edinson Cavani. One more goal for the France international would see him move ahead of the Uruguayan in the club's all-time chart, and he could also overtake Cavani's tally of 138 league goals in the iconic red-and-blue shirt — Mbappé is currently two points shy of that mark.

PSG, who have an eight-point lead at the top of the table, start as overwhelming favourites to pick up all three points given their own position and the fact their opponents have lost three of their last five league games, including both of the last two. 

WATCH: Kylian Mbappé destroys Marseille in the Classique

PSG have won both their most recent league games, including last weekend's high-pressure trip to the Orange Vélodrome, and coach Christophe Galtier does not want his team slackening off now, especially with next week's UEFA Champions League Last 16 second leg at Bayern Munich fast approaching.

"We have to keep up our standards, our determination. We were on a bad run. The last few minutes against Lille did us good, and there was the match in Marseille where the team showed what they can do with an irreproachable attitude. We have been very disciplined in our preparation for Saturday's game," said Galtier, who saw Coupe de France holders Nantes progress to the semi-finals of this season's competition with a fine 2-1 defeat of Lens in midweek.

"Nantes played well in the Coupe de France against Lens, and they're a good team in this league. When you play Paris Saint-Germain, there are a lot of eyes on the game. Nantes will play to their strengths, and will give their all.

"The most important game is the one that's coming up. Our squad is weakened by suspensions and injuries, but we have to keep going in the league. I hope that the players don't have Wednesday's game against Bayern in the back of their mind. It's important to get a third successive win in the league."

The injured Neymar, Presnel Kimpembé, Renato Sanches and Achraf Hakimi are joined on the sidelines by the suspended Marco Verratti. Kimpembé's season-ending Achilles injury — sustained against Marseille — means Danilo Pereira will likely operate in a back three against a Nantes side who are coached by former PSG player and boss Antoine Kombouaré, a colleague Galtier greatly admires.

"Knocking out Lens behind closed doors is a great performance. The team has been reinforced in attack, and in their ability to play into space behind the defence," said the PSG boss, whose team have lost two of their last four league games against Nantes. "They've got a coach I like very much. He's an incredible guy who manages to motivate his players. It seems to me that I need to put out a very competitive team against Nantes to be able to go for a third straight league win. There's not much possibility to make a lot of changes."

Nantes come into Round 26 in 13th place, seven points above the bottom four, and PSG have lost just one of their last 75 home games against teams ranked in the lower half of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table. That defeat was, however, against Nantes in March 2021, and since the resumption of the league in December, the Canaries have picked up as many points in five games away from home as they did in their previous 14.

Former PSG goalkeeper Rémy Descamps, who again shone in the midweek cup game, is unlikely to feature on the Parc des Princes pitch with first-choice Alban Lafont restored to the starting XI. Quentin Merlin is out as are Andy Delort, who scored both goals in the victory over Lens on Wednesday, Charles Traoré and Sébastien Corchia, but Nicolas Pallois could play after training on Friday.

Probable teams

PSG: Donnarumma - Marquinhos, Ramos, Danilo - Mukiele, Vitinha, Ruiz, Zaïre-Emery, Mendes - Messi, Mbappé

Nantes: Lafont - Centonze, Girotto, Castelletto, Hadjam - Mollet, Chirivella, Moutoussamy - Blas, Guessand, Ganago

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