MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 07:52:08| >> :120:43195:43195:
[monks data]
Nice
Ligue 1
Apr 18, 2015 at 4pm UK
 
PSG logo

1-3

Bodmer (45')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Pastore (39', 63'), Cavani (69' pen.)

Preview: Nice vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Ligue 1 game between Nice and title chasers Paris Saint-Germain.

There will be no opportunity for Paris Saint-Germain to relax when they return to Ligue 1 action with a trip to Nice on Saturday afternoon.

As they look to juggle their commitments across two competitions, the pressure is on PSG to boost their title bid against a side with nothing to lose in the closing stages of the campaign.


Nice

Nice's French forward Alexy Bosetti celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Nice and Evian Thonon on April 4, 2015 © Getty Images

The big challenge for Nice over the next six matches will be to secure a top-half finish at the end of a season which has had its fair share of highs and lows.

There has been a boost for the club's supporters in recent weeks thanks to a three-game unbeaten run, which included a surprise victory over title hopefuls Lyon last month.

Despite currently occupying 10th spot, Nice sit just five points clear of the bottom three and even if the threat of relegation is not in the thoughts of the supporters, Claude Puel will be keen to pull further away from their rivals in the bottom half of the table with a strong finish to the campaign.

A top-half finish seems more likely than a late-season flirt with the relegation zone, and Puel may consider Saturday's meeting with PSG an opportunity for his side to adopt a positive approach in the search for a shock win.

The win at Lyon was proof that Nice can match the bigger teams in Ligue 1, and if consistency had been easier to achieve, European qualification may not have been out of the question this season.

Recent form: LLLWDW


PSG

Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2ndL) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a penalty during the French League Cup final football match Bastia (SCB) vs Paris Saint-Germain, on April 11, 2015© Getty Images

A hectic week has seen highs and lows for PSG, who saw their hopes of reaching the Champions League semi-finals take a hit with a 3-1 loss to Barcelona in the French capital on Wednesday evening.

Despite not being out of the tie, the chances of overturning the deficit at Camp Nou on Tuesday seem small and a slip-up in the Ligue 1 title race could make it one of the toughest weeks in recent memory.

The defeat to Barcelona came just a few days after Laurent Blanc's side claimed the first trophy of the season by beating Bastia 4-0 in the Coupe de la Ligue final.

Triumphing in that competition may have been an added bonus, but the club's supporters and owners will expect nothing less than success in the league after a dramatic title race which has seen PSG and Lyon pull away from their rivals in recent weeks.

Lyon's victory over Bastia on Wednesday night put them two points clear at the top of the table, but PSG still have a game in hand over their rivals with seven matches left in their campaign.

However, anything less than a win on Saturday will hand control to Lyon, who return to action at home to Saint-Etienne on Sunday evening.

Recent form: WDWLWW
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWWL


Team News

Paris Saint-Germain's coach Laurent Blanc reacts during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lyon (OL) on December 1, 2013© Getty Images

Blanc is faced with a number of difficult decisions as he looks to boost his side's title bid without waving the white flag ahead of a trip to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be unavailable as he begins his four-match ban for his rant about France and Ligue 1 officials, but Blanc is unlikely to consider resting many key men as he looks to put the pressure back on Lyon.

Edinson Cavani should lead the attack for the visitors, while Marco Verratti will also miss out for the visitors due to suspension.

Nice have no new injury concerns ahead of the meeting with the champions, and Puel may name an unchanged side with Alassane Plea leading the attack with support from Valentin Eysseric

Nice possible starting lineup:
Puoplin, Genevois, Puel, Amavi, Bodmer, Mendy, Rafetraniaina, Bautheac, Eysseric, Benrahma, Plea

PSG possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Aurier, Marquinhos, Silva, Maxwell; Rabiot, Cabaye, Matuidi; Lucas, Cavani, Pastore


Head To Head

Ibrahimovic scored the only goal of the game from the spot as PSG triumphed in the reverse fixture back in November to give his side their fourth successive win over Nice.

PSG have lost just one of the last nine Ligue 1 games between the two sides, while the statistics suggest they will miss Ibrahimovic, who has scored six goals in his last five appearances against the opposition.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Nice 0-1 PSG

The pressure is on PSG following Lyon's win in midweek and their own disappointment in the Champions League, but they will be desperate to return to form, and Blanc's side should battle to all three points at the Allianz Riviera.



ID:217495: cacheID:217495:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9454:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates scoring during the UEFA Champions league quarter-final first leg football match PSG vs FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 15, 2015
Read Next:
Laurent Blanc: 'David Luiz was not 100% fit'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG12102036102632
2MonacoMonaco1282221101126
3Marseille116232415920
4Lille115421811719
5Lyon115331815318
6Nice1145221111017
7Reims115241915417
8Lens11452129317
9Auxerre115152019116
10Toulouse124351314-115
11StrasbourgStrasbourg113442022-213
12Brest124171622-613
13Rennes113261318-511
14NantesNantes112451417-310
15Angers112451320-710
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne113171025-1510
17Le HavreLe Havre11308823-159
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier112181131-207


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!