PSG welcome Brest to the Parc des Princes this weekend as they look to get back to winning ways in Ligue 1.
Venue: Parc des Princes
Key Statistics
Paris Saint-Germain are unbeaten in Parc des Princes in the league this season (W8, D1).
The 18 goals they have conceded this season is their joint-worst return at the same point since the start of the club’s Qatari-era back in 2011/12.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last nine games (W5, D4).
Brest have kept just one clean sheet across their last 16 away trips.
They have conceded eight goals over their last three losses, which is more than in their previous nine league outings combined.
The visitors haven’t won against Ligue 1 leaders since March 1990 (D3, L6 – since).
They are unbeaten in their last six away games (W4, D2).
Head to head
PSG have won their last ten straight meetings against Brest stretching back to 2011.
Pochettino’s side scored four past Brest in the reverse fixture in August, with Ander Herrera, Kylian Mbappe, Gueye and Di Maria all on the scoresheet.
Latest Performances in all competitions
PSG: D-W-D-W-W
Brest: L-W-D-W-L
PSG
Paris Saint-Germain continued their patchy Ligue 1 form last week with a 1-1 draw with Lyon.
The Parisiens were lucky to escape with a draw after Lyon missed a lot of chances. Without some key members of their squad, they were exposed by an energetic but profligate Lyon side who led after just seven minutes through Lucas Paqueta. But German defender Thilo Kehrer rescued a point for Pochettino’s side with just 14 minutes left on the clock.
The draw was PSG’s fourth draw in their last five league games and highlights the trouble the league leaders are facing at the moment.
However, their recent slump has not been enough to dethrone them from the top of the table. The hosts come into this round with an eleven-point lead at the top.
They look primed for their tenth Ligue 1 title at the moment, but must not take things for granted to avoid a catastrophic end to their season. They have an excellent record against Brest, having won each of their last ten meetings and will fancy their chances of taking maximum points this time around.
Possible PSG starting line-ups
Keylor Navas; Thilo Kehrer, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes; Georginio Wijnaldum, Leandro Paredes, Marco Verratti; Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi, Kylian Mbappe.
Injured: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Julian Draxler, Ángel di María, Layvin Kurzawa and Danilo Pereira, Neymar
Doubtful: Lionel Messi
Unavailable (AFCON): Abdou Diallo, Achraf Hakimi and Idrissa Gueye
Suspended: None
Brest
Brest will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to the capital this Saturday.
The visitors began their year with a 3-0 win over Bordeaux in the Coupe De France. But in the league, their first game of the year was a 3-0 loss to ten-men Nice last time out.
The loss was their seventh loss of the season (W6, D7) and pushed Michel Der Zakarian’s men down to 13th place in the league. It also extended their unbeaten run in the league to three games (D1, L2) and made their six-game winning run in November and December something of the past.
Although Les Pirates are still nine points clear of the relegation zone, they will be desperate to get back to winning ways to avoid getting caught up in a relegation fight later in the season. They have been impressive away from home in recent times, winning three of their last five league games (D2). Such a form should give them confidence that they can claim their first points away to PSG since May 1991.
Possible Brest starting line-ups
Marco Bizot; Ronael Pierre-Gabriel, Brendan Chardonnet, Christophe Herelle, Jean-Kevin Duverne; Romain Faivre, Paul Lasne, Lucien Agoume, Franck Honorat; Steve Mounie, Irvin Cardona.
Injured: Sebastien Cibois
Doubtful: Romain Del Castillo
Unavailable (AFCON): Haris Belkebla,
Suspended: None
Prediction
PSG 3-1 Brest.
