Paris Saint-Germain play host to Montpellier HSC on Wednesday evening looking to extend their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings to 15 points.
Montpellier make the trip to Parc des Princes knowing that a surprise victory will take the club into fourth position in the table.
Paris Saint-Germain
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PSG have only scored four goals in their last three matches, but the fact that they have had to work hard for their wins has probably been viewed as a blessing in disguise by Thomas Tuchel.
The French giants are having to do without Neymar and Edinson Cavani due to injury, but they are continuing to pick up important results at a hectic period of the season.
A late goal from Kylian Mbappe was required to see off Saint-Etienne on Sunday evening, but it came with Tuchel having opted for a change in system and personnel.
The triumph felt like an important one in the context of their campaign, and although PSG already have one hand on the Ligue 1 trophy, Tuchel will be delighted having witnessed his side come through with another three points.
Montpellier and Nimes are to come in the space of six days - a short turnaround which Tuchel could have done without - but PSG want some of their squad players to develop ahead of the next campaign and the current schedule allows them to do just that.
Moussa Diaby and Colin Dagba were able to get more minutes under their belt at the weekend, and Christopher Nkunku and Stanley Nsoki may be used over the next two fixtures.
PSG must play eight matches in under a month from Wednesday until March 17, and that quartet will have to contribute at some stage with Tuchel keen to maintain the sharpness of his star men ahead of what seems like PSG's best opportunity to win the Champions League later in the season.
The 'big three' could all be fit and firing by the end of March but this is the time of the season where Tuchel will be satisfied with results by any means necessary, especially against a Montpellier team who have the potential to cause a surprise on Wednesday night.
Recent form: WWWLWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWW
Montpellier HSC
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Montpellier have put together a six-match unbeaten streak which has included five draws, but that does not tell the whole story and Michel Der Zakarian will be relatively content with his team's recent run.
His side have dropped down to sixth place in the table, but comeback points have been earned against Nimes and Monaco during that period as well as a draw at Lille at the weekend.
The bigger picture shows that just nine points have been registered from nine matches, but there is every suggestion that this team is beginning to get back on track ahead of more tough encounters on their travels.
Montpellier have so far avoided playing PSG in the league this season with this fixture having been postponed earlier in the campaign, although Der Zakarian's side will not fear the challenge which awaits them on Wednesday.
Three clean sheets have been recorded in their last five outings, and there will be a desire to take advantage of their more illustrious opponents being without some of their star players.
Der Zakarian will hope that Andy Delort can continue his return to form with the forward having scored in his last two games after previously failing to find the back of the net since November 25.
Gaetan Laborde has also chipped in with two goals and an assist in four matches after nearly two months without contributing either, and Montpellier need the duo to maintain their current efforts in order to retain hope of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Recent form: DDWDDD
Team News
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Tuchel is unlikely to rush Meunier back to action after concussion, and the right-back is likely to remain sidelined for this game.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was absent at the weekend due to illness and is unlikely to make the starting lineup, but Marco Verratti could return after being given the night off against Saint-Etienne.
Tuchel is monitoring the fitness of Presnel Kimpembe - who may be kept on the bench - while Cavani is likely to stay sidelined with a hip problem and Neymar is out until the end of March.
Delort was missing for Montpellier at the weekend due to injury, but it is unclear whether the club's top goalscorer will be fit enough to return for Wednesday's game.
Paul Lasne could take the place of Mihailo Ristic at right wing-back, but the rest of the starting lineup may remain the same.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Buffon; Kehrer, Marquinhos, T.Silva, Bernat; Alves, Verratti, Di Maria; Draxler, Mbappe, Diaby
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Mendes, Hilton, Congre; Ristic, Skhiri, Tallec, Oyongo; Laborde, Mollet; Skuletic
Head To Head
PSG have registered wins in six of the last dozen competitive encounters with Montpellier, but La Paillade will be relatively content with their recent record in this fixture.
Montpellier have two wins and four draws to their name over the same period, and just two defeats have been suffered on their last five visits to Parc des Princes.
Their most recent success on this ground came in a Coupe de France tie in January 2014.
We say: Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Montpellier HSC
PSG showed at the weekend that they are capable of grinding out a win, and we are expecting a similar type of game on Wednesday evening. Tuchel will likely make changes, but his team should be able to register a hard-fought victory.
Darren Plant
