Saint-Etienne vs. PSG: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info

Jonathan JohnsonJan 30, 2016

Next to stand in Paris Saint-Germain’s way as they seek to go an entire Ligue 1 season unbeaten are AS Saint-Etienne on Sunday.

Les Verts have not fared as well this campaign as they have done in recent ones, but Christophe Galtier’s men are still only six points behind second-placed AS Monaco.

A win over Le Championnat’s runaway leaders from Paris at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard would help them get back into contention for European qualification.

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Date: Sunday, January 31

Time: 9 p.m. CET (8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. EST)

Venue: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne

TV Info: Canal+ (France), BT Sport 2 (UK) and beIN Sports 3(USA)

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect

PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 16: Adrien Rabiot of PSG and Benjamin Corgnet of Saint-Etienne (left) in action during the French League Cup (Coupe de la Ligue) match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Saint-Etienne (ASSE) at Parc des Princes stadium on De

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Preamble

Saint-Etienne are looking for their first home win over PSG in any competition since 2008—a 1-0 victory in Ligue 1—but few expect that to happen this weekend. Laurent Blanc’s men are in dominant form and have won their last 12 consecutive games across all competitions.

Les Verts have lost four times in their last 12 outings, as well as exiting the Coupe de la Ligue at the hands of the French champions in the capital.

Factor in Les Parisiens’ good recent form in their meetings with Galtier’s team—eight consecutive wins across all competitions—as well as Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s liking for playing against Saint-Etienne, and the odds are heavily stacked against the hosts.

Some of PSG’s stars have been struggling with injury lately and miss out. Captain Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Javier Pastore, Layvin Kurzawa, Gregory van der Wiel, Salvatore Sirigu, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Hervin Ongenda will not feature at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard this weekend, per the capital club's official website.

Despite that, the French champions still have plenty of quality and strength in depth and should be able to cope with any possible absences.

Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguyan forward Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring a goal during the French League Cup match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Saint-Etienne (ASSE) on December 15, 2015 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. AFP PHOTO /

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Form Lines (all competitions)

Saint-Etienne

D 1-1 vs. US Raon l’Etape—AET 3-4 win on penalties (Coupe de France)

L 2-1 vs. FC Nantes (Ligue 1)

W 1-0 vs. Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1)

W 2-1 vs. AC Ajaccio—AET (Coupe de France)

D 1-1 vs. Stade de Reims (Ligue 1)

PSG

W 2-1 vs. Olympique Lyonnais (Coupe de la Ligue)

W 0-1 vs. Toulouse (Ligue 1)

W 2-1 vs. Toulouse (Coupe de France)

W 5-1 vs. Angers SCO (Ligue 1)

W 2-0 vs. Toulouse (Coupe de la Ligue)

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 25: Lucas Moura of PSG in action during the French Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Saint-Etienne (ASSE) at Parc des Princes stadium on October 25, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

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Predicted Formations

Saint-Etienne (5-2-3): Ruffier; Malcuit, Theophile-Catherine, Bayal Sall (c), Pogba, Tabanou; Lemoine, Pajot; Roux, Soderlund, Bahebeck.

PSG (4-3-3): Trapp; Aurier, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Maxwell; Motta, Rabiot, Matuidi; Lucas, Ibrahimovic (c), Di Maria.

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 25: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Paris Saint-Germain kicks the ball during the Ligue 1 game between Paris Saint-Germain and AS Saint-Etienne at Parc des Princes on October 25, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Imag

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Player to Watch

Angel Di Maria has been PSG’s main man in recent weeks, putting Zlatan Ibrahimovic into the shade somewhat.

However, although the Argentina international’s form has been extremely impressive of late, Les Parisiens’ talismanic No. 10 has not exactly been doing badly himself.

While Di Maria has five goals and six assists from his last 10 appearances across all domestic competitions, Zlatan has nine goals and one assist from his last 10 Ligue 1 and domestic cup outings.

The super Swede relishes playing against Saint-Etienne more than most teams and has nine goals and one assist to his name from his last six appearances against Les Verts.

With Edinson Cavani out of form and out of favour with Blanc, PSG will likely start with Ibrahimovic, Di Maria and Lucas Moura in attack on Sunday.

The inspirational 34-year-old will be expected to provide a goal or two against his preferred victims as the French giants march on.

Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani (C) challenges Saint-Etienne's Guinean defender Florentin Pogba (L) and Saint-Etienne's French defender Loic Perrin during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Saint-Etie

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Key Battle

With Di Maria and Ibrahimovic in such deadly form and Lucas starting to cement his place in PSG’s strongest starting XI, Saint-Etienne will be hoping that each member of Les Parisiens’ front line endures an off day.

Regardless, Les Verts’ back line—without influential captain Loic Perrin—will need to be at its absolute best and then some more to keep out the men from the capital.

If Galtier does not get his defensive selection spot on, then the hosts will have no chance of keeping a rampant PSG side at bay for the full 90 minutes.