PSG vs. Caen: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream and TV Info
Paris Saint-Germain host SM Caen at the Parc des Princes on Saturday afternoon, a game in which two of Ligue 1’s form teams do battle at different ends of the league table. Three points are a must for both sides at this stage of the season.
Date: Saturday, February 14
Time: 3 p.m. GMT (4 p.m. CET) / 11 a.m. ET
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Venue: Parc des Prince, Paris
TV Info: beIN Sports (U.S.), Canal+ (France)
Live Stream: beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
PSG’s 1-1 draw with Lyon on Sunday kept them in the title race, level on points with Marseille in second but still two points behind the league-leaders.
Laurent Blanc’s side were comfortable 2-0 winners against Nantes in the Coupe de France on Wednesday, sealing their place in the quarter-finals, but they face a tougher task on Saturday against in-form Caen.
Patrice Garande’s side have come from nowhere to go on a fantastic run of four league wins in a row. It has propelled them out of the relegation zone and up into 14th place.
Caen’s tactics are to absorb pressure, sit back and then break quickly down the flanks. It has worked extremely well of late, but this will be the biggest test they have faced in 2015.
Form Lines
PSG
W. 2-0 vs. Nantes (Coupe de France)
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. Saint-Etienne
Caen
W. 2-0 vs. Toulouse
W. 1-0 vs. Saint-Etienne
W. 4-1 vs. Stade Rennais
W. 4-1 vs. Stade de Reims
L. 0-1 vs. Lille OSC
Predicted Formations
PSG: 4-3-3: Salvatore Sirigu; Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Maxwell; Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi, Adrien Rabiot; Lucas Moura, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Caen: 4-1-4-1: Remy Vercoutre; Dennis Appiah, Alaedine Yahia, Damien Da Silva, Emmanuel Imorou; Nicolas Seube; Lenny Nangis, N'Golo Kante, Julien Feret, Herve Bazile; Sloan Privat
Player to Watch: Paris Saint-Germain
With injuries to Yohan Cabaye and Javier Pastore, and the Champions League first leg against Chelsea on the horizon, Saturday should provide another chance for Adrien Rabiot to play a key part.
In the home win over Rennes, it was Rabiot who linked with Zlatan Ibrahimovic to set up only goal of the game. He is full of energy and is a superb passer of the goal.
Saturday would be a great chance for the 19-year-old to show he belongs in Blanc’s starting XI.
Player to Watch: Caen
The resurgence of Caen has been behind the form of evergreen midfielder Julien Feret. During the last four games, Feret has scored four times—he also contributed three assists in the 4-1 win over Rennes.
If Caen are to cause any problems for the PSG defence, they will need the 32-year-old to be at his best.
Key Battle
Caen’s formation is set up perfectly to try and contain the movement of Ibrahimovic. The Sweden striker has been dropping deep into the midfield recently, looking to take control of the game from there.
The away side will have veteran Nicolas Seube patrolling that area of the pitch, and if he can minimise Ibrahimovic’s involvement, stop PSG’s attacks and launch counter-attacks, it could prove vital.
Odds (via Oddschecker)
Home: 3/10
Draw: 5/1
Away: 12/1
