Bastia vs. PSG: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info

In front of what should be a sold-out Stade de France, Paris Saint-Germain and Sporting Club de Bastia will do battle on Saturday evening for the first domestic silverware of the French season.

Around 4,000 Corsicans made the trip to Monaco for the semi-final. They might be outnumbered in Paris, but you can guarantee that they will not be silenced as they cheer their team towards history.

Date: Saturday, April 11

Time: 8 p.m. GMT (9 p.m. CET)/4 p.m. ET

Venue: Stade de France, Paris

TV Info: beIN Sport (U.S.), BT Sport 1 (U.K)

Live Stream: BT Sport

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

It has been exactly 20 years since Bastia last had an opportunity to win the Coupe de la Ligue—a trophy they have never lifted—and they will be hoping that lightning doesn’t strike twice.

PSG won the cup 2-0 in the Parc des Princes back in 1995 through goals from Alain Roche and the Brazilian Rai, but so much has changed within both teams in the years that have passed—Bastia’s task is even tougher two decades later.

Although they won the last league game 4-2 at the Stade Armand Cesari, PSG start heavy favourites despite injuries to Thiago Motta and David Luiz. After they had a small touchline bust-up on Sunday, it will be interesting to see what part Edinson Cavani plays on Saturday. 

Either way, with his 600 minute goal drought harming his confidence, the burden for goals will fall on Zlatan Ibrahimovic before he begins his four-game ban.

"

4-match ban for Ibrahimovic puts pressure of Cavani goal drought http://t.co/0OvBthdek9 for @br_uk

— Andrew Gibney (@Gibney_A) April 10, 2015"

Form

Paris Saint-Germain

W PSG 4-1 Saint-Etienne—Coupe de France

W Marseille 2-3 PSG—Ligue 1

W PSG 3-1 Lorient—Ligue 1

L Bordeaux 3-2 PSG—Ligue 1

D Chelsea 2-2 PSG—Champions League

SC Bastia

L Montpellier 3-1 Bastia—Ligue 1

D Bastia 0-0 Guingamp—Ligue 1

L AS Monaco 3-0 Bastia—Ligue 1

W Bastia 2-1 Nice—Ligue 1

L FC Lorient 2-0 Bastia—Ligue 1

Predicted Formations

Paris Saint-German (4-3-3): Nicolas Douchez; Gregory van der Wiel, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell; Marco Verratti, Adrien Rabiot, Blaise Matuidi; Javier Pastore, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Bastia (4-2-3-1): Alphonse Areola; Gilles Cioni, Mathieu Peybernes, Francois-Joseph Modesto, Julian Palmieri; Yannick Cahuzac, Guillaume Gillet; Gael Danic, Ryad Boudebouz, Floyd Ayite; Giovanni Sio

Players to Watch

There is a very interesting side note to Saturday’s game that Brazilian striker Brandao has been included in the squad for the final, but he hasn’t played for Bastia since his head butt on Thiago Motta.

The script could be written for the forward to make a difference on the pitch rather than off it.

Outside of Brandao, PSG will need to be wary of both Palmieri and Boudebouz. Both are deadly from set pieces and whenever you give them time to deliver balls into the box.

It was Palmieri that scored a world-class volley from outside the area to help Bastia beat 4-2 this season, and he has it in him to become a cup hero this weekend.

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

Key Battle

Injury to Thiago Motta will give Blanc a headache for Saturday’s game and place extra importance in the defensive play of Marco Verratti. The Italian has been superb in recent weeks, but he will need to continue that against Boudebouz.

The Algeria midfielder likes to drift from side to side, looking to pick up the ball in pockets of space and either try his luck from distance or play in team-mates.

Verratti will need to be careful not to push too far forward, not to give Boudebouz more space to create problems.

If the Italian can nullify the advances of the former Sochaux playmaker, then PSG should have no problem in containing Bastia. However, let Boudebouz find time and space, or chances to deliver from dead-ball situations, and the side from the capital could be in trouble.

Odds (via Oddschecker)

Bastia: 11-1

Draw: 9-2

PSG: 1-3