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

Paris Saint-Germain host FC Nantes in Ligue 1 on Saturday, looking to put pressure on title rivals Olympique de Marseille ahead of their clash with FC Metz at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday. The French champions welcome Les Canaris to the Parc des Princes and can take a provisional two-point lead if they win.

Up until their 2-0 loss in Marseille one week ago, Michel Der Zakarian’s side boasted the strongest defensive record in Le Championnat and had shipped just nine goals. However, they have conceded four in two matches with defeats to both Marseille and Toulouse and have slipped to seventh.

PSG’s winning run of nine matches in all competitions is now over thanks to Wednesday’s 1-1 draw away at Lille OSC. Laurent Blanc’s men will be looking to get back to those winning ways in order to prepare for next week’s crunch UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona without concerns over domestic form.

Le President is only missing Thiago Motta and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck for the clash, according to the official squad list on PSG.fr (in French).

Here are the key issues and decisions that will shape Saturday's game. 

PSG Need to Be More Clinical with or Without Zlatan

Michel Spingler/Associated Press

Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed PSG’s 1-1 draw in Lille on Wednesday and could have missed out against Nantes as well after the capital club’s doctor revealed to RMC Sport (h/t Goal.com) that the Swede will not be over his recurring heel problem until at least next summer.

Eventually, that was not the case, but Les Parisiens need to work on their efficiency in front of goal against Nantes whether their talisman is in the starting XI or not.

The Lille draw was partly down to Vincent Enyeama’s excellent display in goal for the hosts, but PSG were also very wasteful in front of goal. Edinson Cavani was the main culprit, and the Uruguayan will need to be in more clinical form come Saturday. 

Nantes Must Rediscover Defensive Solidity

Michel Spingler/Associated Press

As mentioned earlier, Nantes have been extremely solid defensively this season up until their past two matches. Les Canaris must address their recent leaky back line if they are to stand any chance of winning this match.

PSG showed against both OGC Nice and Lille that they can create chances, but they are struggling to finish all of them at present. Der Zakarian’s men could spring a surprise if they can limit the amount of chances that their hosts create on Saturday. 

Barcelona Coming into Focus for PSG

Francois Mori/Associated Press

It is now customary that PSG play within themselves in their Ligue 1 fixtures ahead of a big European encounter, and the capital club are travelling to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday for a game that will decide top spot in Group F.

There is more than a good chance that Blanc’s players already have their sights drifting toward the Camp Nou.

However, PSG passed up their chance to take top spot outright for the first time this season on Wednesday, and they cannot afford to slip up again and present Marseille with the chance to open up another gap in the table. 

Can Nantes Recover from Two Straight Defeats?

Michel Spingler/Associated Press

Confidence was high at the Stade de la Beaujoire prior to defeats against Marseille and Toulouse, so Nantes’ players will be keen to get back on track with a win in Paris. However, those two losses—particularly the TFC one—will have knocked the team’s belief.

"

36 - PSG are unbeaten in 36 of their last 37 home league games (W29, D7, L1). Parc.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 29, 2014"

A win over PSG at the Parc des Princes would not only restore that confidence, but it would also end the French champions’ unbeaten home run in Ligue 1 that stretches back to May.

Considering that this defeat—a 2-1 loss to Stade Rennais—came when Les Parisiens already knew they were crowned champions for a second consecutive season, the task will be harder than it sounds.