Toulouse vs. PSG: Key Issues That Will Shape Ligue 1 Game

Paris Saint-Germain will head southwest on Saturday to face Toulouse in Ligue 1, buoyed by their first away success of the season at Stade Malherbe Caen on Wednesday. The French champions eased the pressure on coach Laurent Blanc with a straightforward, no-nonsense win, but must record a second consecutive league victory.

PSG are up to fourth in le Championnat’s early-season table, three points behind leaders Olympique de Marseille. Their hosts, Toulouse, are 10th after a mixed start to the campaign. However, Alain Casanova’s men will be confident following their surprise 3-0 win away at Stade Rennais in midweek.

According to ESPN FC’s Julien Laurens earlier this week, Blanc has three games to save his position as coach. That was before the Caen clash, and Le President started that triple-header with a win, so he will know the value of a second triumph in as many games on Saturday.

Here are some of the key issues that will shape Toulouse vs. PSG this weekend.

Can PSG Overcome Zlatan Absence Again?

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Like on Wednesday in Lower Normandy, PSG will be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic after Le Parisien revealed (h/t Get French Football News’ tweet) that the super Swede will miss the game in order to fully rest his injured left heel. The talismanic striker’s teammates fared well without him in midweek, but can they do the same twice inside a week?

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be fit for Barcelona clash, but not Thiago Silva or Lavezzi. Full story: http://t.co/j7ORQ3eNRZ #PSG

— Get French Football (@GFN_France) September 24, 2014"

Edinson Cavani played well in Ibrahimovic’s absence—without ever really excelling—but will have been disappointed that he did not find the back of the net. The Uruguayan will get a second chance to impress without being impaired by his strike partner’s dominance, and he will be more determined than ever to seize it.

Another hard-working display like his one against Caen and he should enjoy plenty of chances.

Which Toulouse Side Will Turn Up?

Michel Euler/Associated Press

So much in this match will depend on which Toulouse side turns up at the Stade Municipal on Saturday. So far, Le Tefece have enjoyed wins over Olympique Lyonnais, Evian Thonon Gaillard and Rennes—all teams that PSG have failed to beat so far this campaign—and Casanova’s men are highly erratic.

TFC are yet to register consecutive victories this season and, prior to Tuesday’s surprise triumph at Rennes, had played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Caen in Toulouse. Les Pitchouns have conceded 10 goals already this season, the worst defensive record in the top half of the Ligue 1 table, so PSG will be looking to create plenty of chances when the pair meet.

PSG Depth to Be Tested

David Vincent/Associated Press

PSG will take on Toulouse this weekend deprived of Ezequiel Lavezzi—who limped off early on in the Caen clash with a hamstring problem—and captain Thiago Silva, as well as Ibrahimovic. With those players all out, Blanc will be unable to rotate his squad as much as he would like to ahead of next Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League encounter against Barcelona.

Ibrahimovic’s absence almost certainly means that Cavani will start and play for the majority—if not the entirety—of the game. While Marquinhos will once again replace Silva, Lavezzi’s unavailability means that at least one of Lucas Moura or Javier Pastore will play for a large part of Saturday’s match.

Blanc will likely have wanted to keep his best players fresh for continental duty next week, but the Frenchman’s hand will now be forced with certain players. The Toulouse clash also has a great deal of personal importance riding on it considering the tactician’s delicate situation at present.

Barcelona Rapidly Approaching

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Blanc needs another win at Toulouse to have two of the three positive results needed to supposedly save his job. Unfortunately for him, this second game comes just in front of a crucial European clash with Barcelona.

PSG normally slack off pre-UEFA Champions League, but they cannot afford to this time for a number of reasons. A negative result will see the pressure piled back on the capital club no sooner had they relieved some of it and would also make the Barca encounter a must-win game for Blanc in order to save his job.

Les Parisiens must fight the usual complacency that afflicts them in the run-up to a continental match and make sure to take all three points back to Paris with them on Saturday evening.

Serge Aurier Returns to Toulouse

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Serge Aurier joined PSG from Toulouse over the summer and Saturday will be the first time that the Ivorian star plays against his former club. Expected to start at right-back, with Blanc sure to shuffle his hand ahead of Barcelona, the talented 21-year-old will know all about his past employers' on-field weaknesses.

PSG's No. 19 will be keen to put on a show for his old fans, who grew fond of him during his time at Stade Municipal. Could Aurier be a key part of Blanc's plans to win the match this weekend?

One thing is certain; he needs a stronger performance than the one he put in for his last start, which was the 1-1 draw with Lyon last week, if he is to stand any chance of permanently dislodging first-choice Gregory van der Wiel anytime soon.