Lionel Messi is "very motivated" ahead of his Paris Saint-Germain comeback with the Ligue 1 Uber Eats leaders looking to edge towards a record 11th league title when they host relegation candidates Ajaccio on Saturday (kick-off 9pm CEST).
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Messi has scored 15 goals and provided a league-high 15 assists to help PSG come into Round 35 with daylight between themselves and their nearest challengers. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner returns after a two-week club-imposed suspension, and coach Christophe Galtier is looking forward to having the FIFA World Cup winner back in his side.
"I spoke to Leo when he returned [to training on Monday]. I thought he was very calm, very motivated, very determined to win another trophy. Yes, Leo is going to start," confirmed Galtier, who will partner the Argentina international up front with the division's leading scorer Kylian Mbappé (24 goals), and potentially Hugo Ekitike following the young striker's impressive display in Messi's absence in last weekend's 3-1 win at Troyes.
"In Troyes, the team expressed itself well in the system we put in place. By incorporating Leo, we'll have to find an attacking set-up that works just as well."
WATCH: PSG win at Troyes without Messi
While Messi is back, Presnel Kimpembe, Neymar, Nordi Mukiele and Nuno Mendes are all out while Timothée Pembélé is a doubt as PSG seek to improve on their poor recent home form that has seen them lose three of their last four outings at the Parc des Princes where Galtier expects Ajaccio to shape their own tactical system to the demands of facing his star-studded line-up.
"When you are at Paris Saint-Germain, you can analyse the opponent, but they often change their system when they come to the Parc des Princes. We are working on our principles, we have relied this week on what we did well in the last game against Troyes, with much more intensity in the recovery and a better quality of play," he explained.
"The match against Ajaccio will be more crucial than decisive. That's what I said about the Troyes game and that's what I'll repeat about the Ajaccio game. If we win on Saturday, we won't be champions. The decisive matches will come later. But we have this great determination with one goal: the French league title."
WATCH: Ajaccio hold Toulouse
While PSG are closing in on clinching top spot, third-from-bottom Ajaccio are 11 points from safety with just 12 left to play for, meaning even a repeat of their 4-2 victory in Paris in May 2005 — their only win over PSG in the duo's last eight league meetings — may not be enough to keep them in the top flight.
Fail to win, and Ajaccio will certainly be relegated to Ligue 2 for the fourth time after 1972/73, 2005/06 and 2013/14, and a 24th defeat of the campaign would mark an unwanted club record.
"It's very difficult for them to stay in Ligue 1, even if mathematically they are not relegated. But the players will come to the Parc des Princes free, without the pressure of getting a result," said Galtier of the Corsican visitors, who are without Yoann Touzghar (suspended) and Algeria international Youcef Belaïli while Michaël Barretto is an injury doubt.
"There will simply be a desire to express themselves. With great exposure, the players who come to the Parc always want to perform. I expect a match where the other team will not give up. We'll have to be very determined from the start of the match, so that we don't let them settle into the game."
Probable teams
PSG: Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Ramos, Danilo; Hakimi, Vitinha, Verratti, Ruiz, Bernat; Messi, Mbappé
Ajaccio: Leroy; Youssouf, Gonzalez, Vidal, Koné; Nouri, Marchetti, Mangani, Coutadeur, Spadanuda; Hamouma
