Lorient vs. PSG: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Ligue 1 Game

Paris Saint-Germain travel to the Stade du Moustoir to take on FC Lorient on Saturday and the French champions will be buoyed by the fact that they are only four points behind Ligue 1 leaders Olympique de Marseille.

While Marcelo Bielsa’s men appear to be imploding following last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat away at Olympique Lyonnais, PSG will have their sights firmly fixed on claiming all three points in Le Classique next week.

First things first, Les Parisiens must overcome Sylvain Ripoll’s struggling Lorient side who are perched precariously close to Le Championnat’s bottom three in 17th place.

After a full week of rest, the capital club will be raring to go and the Stade du Moustoir is traditionally a happy hunting ground for them. Laurent Blanc’s men have won five of their last nine league matches in western France, losing just once.

For the past three consecutive seasons, PSG have won on the road at Lorient and they will be confident of making it four straight wins over Les Merlus.

Here are some key issues and decisions that will shape this Saturday’s Ligue 1 game.

Le Classique Firmly on PSG’s Minds

Michel Euler/Associated Press

There is a chance going into this match that the PSG players’ minds are already fixed on next Sunday’s clash with bitter rivals Marseille in Paris. Le Classique is the biggest fixture on the French footballing calendar and the stakes could not be higher going into this one.

To ensure that the pressure is on OM going into their clash with battling RC Lens, Blanc and his players need to emerge from Lorient with all three points. However, if they are not fully focused on the task in hand, Les Merlus could shock their visitors on Saturday.

Should PSG be able to remain focused and beat Ripoll’s men, they would provisionally close the gap on Marseille to just one point.

Edinson Cavani Returns

Jacques Brinon/Associated Press

After serving his one-match suspension for his celebration against Lens two weeks ago, PSG’s Edinson Cavani is available once again. The Uruguayan has scored in each of his last two matches in all competitions—Lens in Ligue 1 and APOEL FC in the UEFA Champions League—and he will be keen to pick up where he left off with his well-taken goal in Cyprus.

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There is a massive interview with PSG & Uruguay's Edinson Cavani in Le Parisien today. Some extracts. #ElMatador

— FFW (@FrenchFtWeekly) October 31, 2014"

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Cavani: "There was a difficult period, not only for me, but the team too. Results were not what was expected & we started to feel bitter."

— FFW (@FrenchFtWeekly) October 31, 2014"

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Cavani: "Even though I have had some doubts, I always return to the conclusion that I feel very good here at PSG."

— FFW (@FrenchFtWeekly) October 31, 2014"

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Cavani: "My celebration never attracted attention from referees, so I was surprised. I will not change it, there is nothing wrong with it."

— FFW (@FrenchFtWeekly) October 31, 2014"

As reported by French Football Weekly’s tweets, Cavani recently spoke with Le Parisien to set the record straight over his recent struggles in the French capital. With that weight now firmly off his chest, El Matador will be keen to rediscover his best form.

One or two goals against a porous Lorient defence would boost Cavani’s confidence massively as the South American prepares to lead the line in that crunch clash with Marseille next week.

Can Lorient Stop the Rot?

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

Of their 11 matches played so far this season, Lorient have won just three, drawn one and lost seven. Two of Les Merlus' three league wins—three of four in all competitions if you include the Coupe de la Ligue—have come on the road.

The Breton side’s only home win this campaign was back in August against rock bottom EA Guingamp and their only point was also in the same month with a goalless draw against OGC Nice.

It could be that Ripoll and his side have already accepted that defeat is likely in this match, but no team likes playing on Lorient’s synthetic pitch. PSG’s questionable focus could play into the hosts’ hands and allow them to secure a shock win and relieve some of the pressure on Ripoll.

PSG Rotation

Michel Euler/Associated Press

With an important Champions League clash with APOEL FC coming up next Wednesday, quickly followed by Le Classique against Marseille, Blanc will be keen to rotate his squad for maximum freshness. A win against the Cypriots would as good as qualify PSG for the latter stages in Europe, while Thiago Motta and Gregory van der Wiel will be suspended for the OM encounter.

Serge Aurier will replace the Dutchman away at Lorient as he serves the first of a two-game suspension following his red card against Girondins de Bordeaux last weekend. Van der Wiel will likely come back in to face APOEL, before being replaced once again by Aurier against Marseille.

Motta will likely feature this weekend at Lorient and then at home against APOEL before sitting out the OM game. It is up to Blanc to rotate the likes of Aurier and Yohan Cabaye so that both are ready to step up when PSG’s bitter rivals come to town.