PSG vs. Bordeaux: Key Issues That Will Shape Ligue 1 Game
Paris Saint-Germain welcome Girondins de Bordeaux to the Parc des Princes on Saturday for a mouth-watering clash between Ligue 1’s second and third-placed teams.
The French champions are seven points behind leaders Olympique de Marseille and locked on 18 points along with Willy Sagnol’s men.
With Marcelo Bielsa’s OM side taking on Olympique Lyonnais at the Stade Gerland on Sunday, there is a chance that a win for either side in this match would close the gap on Les Phoceens. However, there is no guarantee that an insatiable Marseille outfit will drop points against Hubert Fournier’s rejuvenated Lyon, so it is imperative to both—even at this early stage of the season—to get the win.
With Marseille coming to the capital early next month, PSG cannot afford to drop further points if they want to be able to stand a chance of pegging Bielsa’s men back.
Once again, Les Parisiens coach Laurent Blanc has a number of issues to deal with going into the game.
Here are a few that will decide this one.
How Will PSG Cope Without Ibrahimovic and Cavani?
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The biggest issue coming into this one is how Blanc goes about replacing the suspended Edinson Cavani and the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Le President has been without one or the other in the past, but never both at the same time. Without either one of his two star strikers, Blanc will have to come up with another way to penetrate Les Girondins’ back line.
Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore have thrived with the extra freedom given to them by Ibrahimovic’s absence, so Blanc will likely want to keep them in their current roles to get the best out of them.
With that in mind, the Frenchman will probably introduce Jean-Christophe Bahebeck in place of Cavani and continue with the same attacking style that looks to utilise Pastore in his preferred No. 10 role and Lucas as something of a second striker.
Can Cedric Carrasso Recover from Caen Blunder?
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Bordeaux stumbled once again last weekend, drawing 1-1 at home to Stade Malherbe Caen after a surprise 1-0 defeat away at Stade de Reims.
Les Girondins goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso was questionable on both goals conceded in the past two matches, particularly Caen’s equaliser through Herve Bazile last weekend.
The 32-year-old French international inexplicably lost all sense of positioning, allowing Bazile one of the easiest finishes he will ever score.
It is not the first time that the Bordeaux No. 16 has made a mistake like this, either.
Carrasso committed a similar error early last season when PSG won 2-0 at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. Lucas was the lucky beneficiary that time. Will he get a similarly straightforward chance this weekend?
Thiago Silva to Create Another PSG Defensive Headache?
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On Thursday night, PSG captain Thiago Silva received the news he had been dreading and preparing for since last week.
His stepfather passed away, with the Brazilian international revealing the news through his Instagram account.
"Translation for Thiago Silva's message on Instagram, where he announces his father's death. pic.twitter.com/327yEjDxfi
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) October 23, 2014"
Considering the news of his stepfather’s worsening condition contributed toward Silva missing last Friday’s 3-1 win over RC Lens at Stade de France, this devastating blow could now see the 30-year-old miss the Bordeaux match on Saturday as well.
With David Luiz now fit again, it is possible that he partners veteran central defender Zoumana Camara at the back this weekend. Bordeaux will fancy their chances of causing both players significant problems.
Can Bordeaux Keep a Clean Sheet?
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With PSG’s attacking headaches ahead of Saturday’s clash, Bordeaux could actually see this match as a chance to improve their poor defensive record.
Despite sitting third in the Ligue 1 table and having scored the fourth highest number of goals so far this season, Sagnol’s men have only managed to keep one clean sheet.
That shutout came in their 1-0 opening day victory away at Montpellier HSC. Since then, Bordeaux have conceded at least once in each game they have played.
If they can keep PSG out, Sagnol will feel that his side can create enough chances to snatch an important win in Paris.
