PSG vs. Lorient: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Just as FC Lorient think they have turned the tide following the 2-0 win over Stade de Reims, they face a midweek test against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
Following two defeats on the trot, two headed goals from Zargo Toure sealed a much-needed victory, but they will need to step up another level to compete against the league leaders.
PSG picked up their own 2-0 victory on Sunday night, beating AS Saint-Etienne at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice, taking his total against Les Verts to 14 and his tally for the season to 19—matching last campaign's total.
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Les Merlus need points to try and keep their distance from the relegation pack, but PSG require just one more positive result to set a new record of 33 games unbeaten—although FC Nantes' record of 32 games occurred over one campaign.
First-half goals from Hervin Ongenda and Blaise Matuidi gave PSG a 2-0 lead when the two sides met earlier in the season. Benjamin Moukandjo's strike handed the home side a sliver of hope, but Lorient didn't have enough quality to make the Parisians pay.
Date: Wednesday, 3 February
Time: 8:00 p.m. GMT (3:00 p.m ET)
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
TV Info: BT Sport 2 (UK), beIN Sports (US)
Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect (US)
Last five results
Paris Saint-Germain
W Saint-Etienne 0-2 PSG (Ligue 1)
W PSG 2-0 Toulouse (Coupe de la Ligue)
W PSG 5-1 Angers (Ligue 1)
W PSG 2-1 Toulouse (Coupe de France)
W Toulouse 0-1 PSG (Ligue 1)
FC Lorient
L Lorient 2-0 Reims (Ligue 1)
L Nice 2-1 Lorient (Ligue 1)
W Boulogne 1-3 Lorient (Coupe de France)
L Lorient 0-2 Monaco (Ligue 1)
L Bordeaux 2-0 Lorient (Coupe de la Ligue)
Slowly, but surely, Laurent Blanc is getting players back into his squad following a spate of injuries.
Javier Pastore, Marco Verratti and Gregory van der Wiel will miss the game against Lorient, with the coach hoping they can make a return at the weekend.
Ibrahimovic, Angel Di Maria and Lucas Moura are set to continue up front, with Edinson Cavani remaining on the bench. After Benjamin Stambouli's poor display against Saint-Etienne, expect Adrien Rabiot to play beside Matuidi and Thiago Motta.
Captain Thiago Silva is back in the squad, as is fellow Brazilian, David Luiz—expect at least one of them to start on Wednesday.
Predicted Formation:
PSG (4-3-3): Kevin Trapp; Serge Aurier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Layvin Kurzawa; Thiago Motta, Adrien Rabiot, Blaise Matuidi; Angel Di Maria, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lucas Moura.
Sylvain Ripoll welcomes midfielder Didier Ndong back into his 19-man squad after serving a suspension. Wesley Lautoa is injured, the defender will miss the rest of the season.
In most games, Lorient set up to play 4-4-2 and only six times has Ripoll deviated from his preferred set-up—that may change on Wednesday. It would be smart for Les Merlus to pack the midfield, look to play 4-1-4-1 with Benjamin Moukandjo leading the line.
Lamine Kone's departure to Sunderland has given 20-year-old Hamadou Karamoko a chance to earn minutes. He played in the win over Reims and could be handed another start in the French capital.
Predicted Formation:
Lorient (4-1-4-1): Benjamin Lecomte; Lamine Gassama, Hamadou Karamoko, Zargo Toure, Vincent Le Goff; Rafidine Abdullah; Yann Jouffre; Didier Ndong, Francois Bellugou, Raphael Guerreiro; Benjamin Moukandjo.
Player to Watch
Back from suspension, Gabon midfielder Ndong will be a huge figure in the heart of the Lorient team if they want to challenge PSG on Wednesday.
According to Foot Mercato (via the Stoke Sentinel's Pete Smith), there were rumours of interest during the January transfer, but the 21-year-old continues his Ligue 1 adventure, at least until the summer. These are the types of games where he can catch the eye and show his full ability.
Ndong is a strong runner with a huge physical presence. He is tidy in possession and looks to break forward when opportunity allows. He may be a little reckless in the challenge, but you don’t want him to lose that competitive spirit.
Key Battle
Speaking after the 2-0 win over Saint-Etienne, per the official PSG website, Blanc is under no illusion regarding the type of challenge he is going to face in Ligue 1 most weeks.
"Every team wants to get a result against Paris. They sit deep to defend and are very aggressive,” said the PSG boss. “It's important to win these types of matches. It proves that even with the team we put out tonight, we still manage to win. That might make our opponents think."
That is set to continue on Wednesday when Lorient come to town. Ripoll’s side will pack the midfield, and similar to the success that Angers found earlier in the season—sit with two organised banks of four, maybe with another body in the centre, and you can frustrate the champions, but you will need to be at your best.
This is where PSG’s movement and vision come into play. Rabiot showed he is capable of picking out lovely over-the-top passes against Toulouse in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-final, plus we have seen it from Di Maria on multiple occasions. Getting in between the lines, disrupting the Lorient back line and make them question their positioning is how the home side will be successful on Wednesday.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Home win: 50/263
Away win: 719/50
Draw: 553/100
