Why PSG's Defence and Midfield Are Actually Better Than Last Season

It’s no surprise that Paris Saint-Germain are dominating Ligue 1 this season. After 13 games, the champions have a 10-point lead, and apart from a few shaky moments, they look destined to pick up their fourth consecutive title.

After draws against Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes and away at Stade de Reims, Laurent Blanc’s side are currently on a seven-league-game winning streak.

PSG’s supremacy is down to the two areas in which they have improved this campaign. The defence looks tighter and the midfield seems to contain more quality and options.

It’s too early to see how much Layvin Kurzawa will improve the team at left-back once Maxwell leaves next summer. But while the Brazilian is still able to command a place in the first team, he adds reliability and experience beside younger heads.

The former Monaco player will be hoping for the same trajectory as fellow full-back Serge Aurier. After an average debut season, the Ivorian has been superb so far this campaign. His charging runs and physicality have improved the back four.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Aurier’s challenges can still miss the mark sometimes, but his overall play has impressed.

Zoumana Camara retired in the summer, moving Presnel Kimpembe up to the club’s fourth-choice centre-back. The 20-year-old hasn’t played a single minute so far this season, but an interesting showing for France at this summer’s Toulon tournament showed he may not be far off—but we’ll never know until Blanc gives him a chance.

As well as improving down the channels, the form of Thiago Silva has definitely picked up since last season. Having one of their leaders back to his best has given PSG a much tougher spine.

What also helps the back four is the vast improvement to the midfield unit. Thiago Motta may not be getting any younger, but the vast upward trajectory of Marco Verratti has seen the little Italian become the leader of the Parisian midfield.

Everything goes through him and the former Pescara man is relishing the extra responsibility.

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Di Maria the finisher, but Verratti & Lucas created the goal. Introductions of Motta & Verratti inspired PSG improvement. #SRFCPSG

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) October 30, 2015"

Rather than just rely on the regular trio of Verratti, Motta and Blaise Matuidi, Blanc seems now to have a few more options off the bench.

After Verratti’s injury against Real Madrid, Adrien Rabiot finally looks like he is ready to grow up and play a leading role. This is looking like it will be the season he breaks away from the difficult teenager persona.

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Adrien Rabiot: stepping into the Verratti role perfectly tonight. #PSG via @StatsZone pic.twitter.com/OkCVhZdJep

— FFW (@FrenchFtWeekly) November 7, 2015"

He may still be receiving boos from the Parc des Princes crowd, but Benjamin Stambouli’s inclusion in the PSG midfield adds depth, fight and solidity in the middle of the park.

With the inclusion of Angel Di Maria into the attack, it has given Blanc the chance to try Javier Pastore in the midfield. Usually only used when at home, the former Palermo midfielder brings added creativity from deep, plus the instinct to push forward and find gaps in his favoured No. 10 role.

Blanc would ideally like for his midfield to provide more goals this season, but the stability and protection they provide the defence has made them much more formidable in Ligue 1.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

The biggest test is going to come in the Champions League. The games against Real Madrid were close, but just like against Barcelona last year, when it came to the knockout phase the French side were a few notches short.

Blanc’s defence and midfield definitely look more together and solid than last season, however, Ligue 1 is not the toughest challenge.

Qualification through the group stage is all but assured, but since they were eliminated by Barcelona in the quarter-finals, PSG knew they would be judged on how far they progressed in that competition, not their performances in the league.