Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Ligue 1 clash between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Nice host Paris Saint-Germain in a rescheduled gameweek 32 Ligue 1 fixture at Allianz Riviera on Wednesday, keen to boost Champions League qualification prospects.
The Eaglets have won two league games on the trot and hope to inflict PSG’s first road loss of 2023-24.
Match preview
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Nice’s prolonged wobble in Ligue 1 saw them slide from title contenders to fifth in the standings, but Francesco Farioli‘s men have seemingly corrected course in the final weeks.
Two wins in 10 matches (six losses) undermined the Eaglets for most of 2024, with the concession of goals replacing the sturdy defensive organisation that typified the club’s start this term.
Farioli’s men have avoided losing in Ligue 1 since Nantes stunned them 2-1 at the backend of March, with three victories secured in the recent five. Three clean sheets in that period match Nice’s tally from the previous lean spell, further underscoring the team’s upswing.
With Les Aiglons hosting PSG, success over the champions puts them one point behind fourth-placed Brest heading into the campaign’s final gameweek away at third-placed Lille.
The difficulty of their last two games means Nice are far from favourites for a top-four finish, but they can draw inspiration from beating Luis Enrique‘s men in the reverse fixture in September.
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That match was the Parisians’ first and only loss in Ligue 1 for months until Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Toulouse, days after the club’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.
It was the departing Kylian Mbappe‘s final appearance for the club before an expected move to Real Madrid, but Enrique’s much-changed line-up did the 2018 World Cup-winning forward no favours.
PSG were already crowned champions, so their final two matches in Ligue 1 are of little significance, with May 25’s Coupe de France final against Lyon the club’s final target of 23-24.
They hope to remain competitive in their concluding games of the top-flight season, keen to continue an undefeated road record that has seen them avoid losing in 15 matches, claiming 11 wins.
The league’s only undefeated away side face possibly its last real threat on the road, as Enrique’s men conclude the season at out-of-form Metz on Sunday, and it remains to be seen if they withstand a motivated Nice at the Allianz Riviera.
Nice Ligue 1 form:
Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form:
Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):
Team News
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Despite scoring once in five league appearances, Terem Moffi will relish facing PSG again, having put Enrique’s side to the sword in the reverse fixture in Paris.
Alexis Beka Beka has not played for the club since September’s seeming suicide attempt, and the player is not expected to make Wednesday’s squad.
Sofiane Diop (foot) and Valentin Rosier are not anticipated to play again this season.
PSG could play something close to their strongest side in midweek, pointing to returns for Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele.
The visitors are without Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles tendon), Layvin Kurzawa (back), Sergio Rico (head) and Lucas Hernandez (knee) for the midweek game.
Nice possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Mendy, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Sanson, Rosario, Thuram; Boga, Moffi, Cho
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz; Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola
We say: Nice 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain
After failing to keep clean sheets in three of the preceding four matches at the Allianz Riviera, Nice have prevented Lorient (3-0) and Le Havre (1-0) from scoring, even if the opposition’s struggles should be considered. Nevertheless, the Eaglets’ motivation to secure a coveted European berth should see them avoid defeat against a PSG side expected to be at full strength again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
