PSG vs. Nantes: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream, TV Info
Eight-time winners Paris Saint-Germain host three-time champions FC Nantes in the Coupe de France round of 16 on Wednesday. Two of the most decorated teams in the competition’s history will go head-to-head for a place in the quarterfinals.
Date: Wednesday, February 11
Time: 8 p.m. GMT (9 p.m. CET)/4 p.m. ET
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
TV Info: beIN Sports (U.S.), France 3 (France)
Live Stream: beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Preamble
PSG drew 1-1 away at Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday, but they are already thrust back into action with the visit of Nantes in the Coupe de France. With the capital club alive in both domestic cups, as well as Le Championnat and the UEFA Champions League, Laurent Blanc’s men will be taking this game seriously.
Les Parisiens have overcome Montpellier HSC and Girondins de Bordeaux to get here, while Nantes have seen off Club Franciscain and Lyon. Les Canaris are flying relatively high at the moment; ninth in the Ligue 1 table and safely positioned away from the relegation dogfight they would have wanted to avoid at the start of the campaign.
The two clubs are yet to meet in the league for a second time this season, but a Zlatan Ibrahimovic double was enough to secure a 2-1 win at Parc des Princes back in December.
PSG have already bettered last season’s Coupe de France showing by advancing to the last 16, while Nantes have also progressed after they exited in the round of 64 last term.
Michel der Zakarian’s men will hope that PSG have their mind elsewhere as the resumption of Champions League action looms next week, but the hosts are targeting success on all fronts this season and will not want to exit without at least making it to Stade de France.
Form Lines
PSG:
D. 1-1 vs. Lyon
W. 1-0 vs. Lille OSC (Coupe de la Ligue)
W. 1-0 vs. Stade Rennais
W. 1-0 vs. AS Saint-Etienne
W. 2-1 vs. Girondins de Bordeaux (Coupe de France)
Nantes:
D. 0-0 vs. OGC Nice
D. 1-1 vs. Lille
L. 4-0 vs. Montpellier
W. 3-2 vs. Lyon (Coupe de France)
L. 1-0 vs. AS Monaco
Predicted Formations
Player to Watch Per Side
PSG’s Ibrahimovic put in his best performance in weeks during the 1-1 draw away at Lyon last Sunday, but he could be rested in order to prepare for next week’s Champions League clash with Chelsea. However, the fact that Thiago Silva has been left out of the squad to give him a breather makes it likely that Zlatan starts as captain.
Edinson Cavani excelled in the Swede’s absence last time out against Bordeaux, but probably won't find himself leading the line on his own this time. With a dreadful performance against Lyon at Stade Gerland to atone for, Cavani needs to show Blanc and his team a response.
Assuming that the Swede is rested, then keep an eye on Cavani playing through the middle. He will have to react following his morale-busting showing last weekend.
On the Nantes side, Jordan Veretout has developed into a key player for Les Canaris over the past few seasons and now the midfield all-rounder has taken on talismanic qualities for Der Zakarian’s outfit.
The men from Pays de la Loire are less likely to rotate than PSG, so Veretout will almost certainly play. If he does, then keep an eye on him as he attempts to inspire his team to victory at Parc des Princes.
With six league goals and four assists from 23 appearances, he is Nantes’ top scorer, despite playing in midfield. The talented 21-year-old midfielder is one of the team’s best chances of a goal in the French capital come Wednesday night.
Nantes' left-sided midfielder Vincent Bessat, scorer of a first career treble against Lyon in the last round, is another player from the visiting side to watch out for on Wednesday.
Key Battle
One of the most important battles in this game will be between Yohan Cabaye and Veretout.
The PSG man is almost certain to come into the hosts’ midfield with Blanc expected to heavily rotate his players, so he should be starting on Wednesday. If he does, then he will need to be at his combative best as he comes up against the likes of Veretout.
Although the Nantes man is not yet a senior French international, it is only a matter of time. Sooner or later, Cabaye will have another competitor for his role in Didier Deschamps’ starting XI and the Nantes talent will likely be one of them.
Cabaye has been in improving form so far this season and has arguably deserved to be given more chances since the start of 2015 after some solid displays. Blanc will likely give the 29-year-old a rare full game and it is up to the PSG No. 4 to take that chance to impress.
Odds (Per Oddschecker)
Home win - 6/17
Away win - 17/4
Draw - 10
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