PSG vs. Troyes: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-0 win over Malmo on Wednesday secured their progression into the last 16 of the Champions League, and now they can concentrate fully on league duties, which is bad news for bottom-of-the-table ES Troyes AC.
The Parisians are already 13 points clear of Lyon at the top of the table, and their domination is put into context when you realise that OL start the weekend closer to the relegation zone than they are to catching Laurent Blanc’s team.
Troyes have yet to record a victory in Ligue 1 this season. In fact, they have only picked up one draw on their travels. In their six away games, they have conceded 16 times, including the 6-0 defeat to Marseille. Form is not on their side, and Troyes manager Jean-Marc Furlan will be hoping the champions show fatigue, or some disinterest.
Never, in any of their nine previous visits to Paris, have Troyes tasted victory. Fifteen years ago, they managed to hold off a Nicolas Anelka-led attack to hold PSG to a 0-0 draw. The odds are stacked against the current defence enjoying a similar evening on Saturday.
Date: Saturday, November 28, 2015
Time: 4 p.m. BST (11 a.m ET)
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
TV Info: beIN Sports, Canal Plus (U.S.)
Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)
Form Lines
| Paris Saint-Germain | ES Troyes AC |
| Malmo 0-5 PSG (Champions League) | Troyes 1-1 Lille (Ligue 1) |
| Lorient 1-2 PSG (Ligue 1) | Lorient 4-1 Troyes (Ligue 1) |
| PSG 5-0 Toulouse (Ligue 1) | Troyes 0-1 Lyon (Ligue 1) |
| Real Madrid 1-0 PSG (Champions League) | Lille 2-1 Troyes (Coupe de la Ligue) |
| Rennes 0-1 PSG (Ligue 1) | Bordeaux 1-0 Troyes (Ligue 1) |
For Troyes, Paul Bernardoni was superb against Lille last week; he should continue in goal. Furlan declared in his pre-match press conference that there would be a new-look defence.
Playing 4-4-2 away at Lorient didn't work, and ESTAC were beaten soundly. Expect Furlan's team to line up in their normal 4-2-3-1, but playmaker Benjamin Nivet may drop to the bench to bring in a more willing runner.
Nivet is easily still one of Troyes' best midfield creators, but at 38 years old and having started the last eight league games, this could be a match too far. Especially when the away side are going to see little of the ball.
Despite training with the first team this week, both Serge Aurier and Javier Pastore have not been included in Blanc's squad for Saturday's game. They continue to join Marco Verratti on the sidelines.
Ezequiel Lavezzi will be in the squad unless he has a bad reaction to Friday's training, but there is a place for young Christopher Nkunku—the midfielder took part in some pre-season games this summer and comes into the matchday squad.
Predicted Formations
PSG (4-3-3): Kevin Trapp; Gregory van der Wiel, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Layvin Kurzawa; Thiago Motta, Benjamin Stambouli, Adrien Rabiot; Lucas Moura, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Troyes (4-2-3-1): Paul Bernardoni; Jonathan Martins-Pereira, Johan Martial, Matthieu Saunier, Chris Mavinga; Thomas Ayasse, Jessy Pi; Yoann Court, Lossemy Karaboue, Stephane Darbion; Corentin Jean
Player to Watch
During the summer, Troyes striker Corentin Jean sealed a move to AS Monaco but was immediately loaned back to the club that formed the youngster.
In his fourth season with the Champagne club, the 20-year-old has played 78 games and has 14 goals. His equaliser against Lille last weekend was just his fifth in Ligue 1 and his second this campaign.
He knows that this is a big season for his career, and Saturday is a huge opportunity for the young forward. He commented in the pre-match press conference that his team will be rubbing shoulders with world-class players—but the challenge is to make it as difficult as possible for their opponents.
Playing upfront on his own will be a tough 90 minutes, but he has the ability and the finishing touch to turn the smallest chance into a goal.
Key Battle
As Furlan hinted on Friday, the Troyes defence could look different from the back four that played against Lille last weekend. How they cope with the threat of PSG’s attack, and how much protection they are given by their midfield team mates, will be the key to Saturday’s game.
The wide midfielders have to pull back, and the work rate of the two playing centrally will be crucial to the away side at least trying to keep the Parisians at arm’s length.
There is a certain contrasting similarity to their current campaigns. Troyes have only scored seven goals and PSG have only conceded seven. The away side have let in 26 goals in 14 matches, and they have to stop a side that has scored 33 times.
Troyes' chances will also depend on how much Wednesday’s trip and match in Malmo has taken out of the first-team squad, and how many changes Blanc makes. You can expect at least two of the midweek front three to start, with the likes of Lucas, Pastore and Lavezzi all able to come in to threaten Furlan’s defensive unit. It could be a long afternoon for the club propping up the Ligue 1 table.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Home win: 100-1111
Away win: 2827-100
Draw: 198-25
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