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

After their disappointment in Barcelona in midweek, Paris Saint-Germain are back to Ligue 1 action on Sunday when they travel to face heroic EA Guingamp at the Stade du Roudourou.

The Breton side won in Europe on Thursday, beating Greek outfit PAOK FC 2-1 away and securing progress to the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League in style thanks to a Claudio Beauvue double.

However, Jocelyn Gourvennec’s men are in 16th place in the Ligue 1 table and just three points above the relegation zone. With PSG still one point behind league leaders Olympique de Marseille, Laurent Blanc’s men will be keen to put pressure on them ahead of their trip to face AS Monaco later on in the evening.

PSG will be without Adrien Rabiot and Javier Pastore, who misses out with a thigh problem per PSG.fr (in French), but with talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Here are the key issues and decisions that will shape Sunday’s Ligue 1 game in Brittany.

Will PSG Be over Their Barcelona Disappointment?

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PSG are often guilty of playing within themselves ahead of big European fixtures, but the French champions could also be nursing a Champions League hangover on Sunday after their 3-1 loss at Barcelona.

Les Parisiens often struggle to get themselves adequately motivated for their games in Le Championnat, unless it is against a Marseille or a Monaco, so the chances of Blanc’s men looking below-par this weekend are actually quite high.

Coming up against a Guingamp side fighting for their lives and buoyed by that win in Thessaloniki, PSG could find themselves on the end of a shock defeat. 

Can Guingamp Handle Their European Exertions?

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The big question for Guingamp is whether they can handle their European commitments, too.

Also in continental action in midweek, although one day after PSG, the Breton side have a much thinner squad than the capital outfit.

Conditions at the Stade du Roudourou will certainly favour them, but the extra day of rest will make a massive difference, especially with the travelling thrown in on top.

With that being said, Gourvennec’s men are fighters, and they will give everything to shock PSG at the weekend and pick up the points.

If they can shake themselves off and immediately click back into Ligue 1 mode, they could want this win more than their visitors on Sunday. 

What State Will the Stade Du Roudourou Pitch Be In?

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We have seen PSG shocked at the Stade du Roudourou in the past, and one of the main reasons for that is the Breton side’s home ground.

In wintery conditions, on a pitch that cuts up easily, PSG may well decide quickly that they do not fancy turning up for Sunday’s game.

The pitch will suit Guingamp. They are familiar with it in treacherous, inclement conditions, and it could be a major levelling factor in this encounter come this weekend. 

How Will a Third Consecutive Game Affect PSG's Ibrahimovic?

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Another major defining factor for PSG will be the potential involvement or non-involvement of star man Ibrahimovic.

The Swede is often the difference between Les Parisiens and their domestic opponents, and that was certainly the case in last week’s 2-1 come-from-behind win over FC Nantes.

The PSG No. 10 is in the squad to face Guingamp on Sunday, which will be his third match in eight days if he plays.

Considering that he is not expected to feature in every game this season because of his heel injury, there is a chance that he starts the match on the bench. The state of the Stade du Roudourou pitch also makes his involvement less likely.

However, with a trip to face Ligue 2 side AC Ajaccio in the Coupe de la Ligue coming up next week, that could be the perfect time to rest the talismanic striker instead.

Whether or not Zlatan starts and features heavily on Sunday could be the difference between one point and all three for PSG.