Guingamp vs. PSG: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Paris Saint-Germain return to league action on Saturday as they travel west to Brittany to face EA Guingamp at the Stade du Roudourou.
With the title already won, Laurent Blanc’s side have to rest and recover before their crucial UEFA Champions League second leg against Manchester City on Tuesday.
With at least four members of Blanc’s first team ruled out for the midweek fixture, there will be changes, and there may be an opportunity for a few of PSG’s younger players to gain some more minutes.
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Guingamp are somewhat still involved in the relegation battle. EAG are six points above Gazelec Ajaccio in 18th, but the same gap exists between them and Angers up in ninth.
They are unbeaten in their last three games, beating Saint-Etienne and fellow strugglers Reims.
A victory is unexpected, but anything from this game would be a huge bonus from the Breton club.
Date: Saturday, April 9, 2016
Time: 4 p.m. BST (11 a.m ET)
Venue: Parc des Princes
TV Info: Canal Plus (France), beIN Sport (U.S.)
Live Stream: beIN Sport Connect (U.S.)
Last Five Results
Guingamp Team News
Guingamp manager Jocelyn Gourvennec could be bold on Saturday and stick with his normal 4-4-2 formation.
There is the option of moving the excellent Yannis Salibur up into the front two beside Jimmy Briand and play the quick Marcus Coco on the right wing—but it depends on whether Salibur recovers in time from an ankle knock.
| EA Guingamp | Paris Saint-Germain |
| D Guingamp 2-2 Montpellier (Ligue 1) | D PSG 2-2 Manchester City (Champions League) |
| W Reims 0-1 Guingamp (Ligue 1) | W PSG 4-1 Nice (Ligue 1) |
| W Guingamp 2-0 Saint-Etienne (Ligue 1) | L PSG 0-2 Monaco (Ligue 1) |
| L Lyon 5-1 Guingamp (Ligue 1) | W Troyes 0-9 PSG (Ligue 1) |
| D Guingamp 2-2 Angers (Ligue 1) | W Chelsea 1-2 PSG (Champions League) |
That would give the option to go 4-5-1 in defence and use pace and dynamism to attack on the break.
If Salibur can't make it, Gourvennec may decide to start former PSG-man, Mevlut Erding, in the front two.
Predicted Lineup (4-4-2): Jonas Lossl; Jonathan Pereira, Christophe Kerbrat, Jeremy Sorbon, Lars Jacobsen; Marcus Coco, Moustapha Diallo, Younousse Sankhare, Thibault Giresse; Jimmy Briand, Yannis Salibur
PSG Team News
Blanc’s team selection on Saturday will be hugely influenced by his limitations over Tuesday’s game. Blaise Matuidi, David Luiz, Javier Pastore and Marco Verratti have all been ruled out of the Manchester City game, which guarantees, because it is due to suspension, the first two should definitely play from the start.
Marquinhos could come in for Thiago Silva, to give the young centre-back more playing time before he plays on Tuesday. Serge Aurier will likely start again, as will Adrien Rabiot. The third midfielder position will be interesting. Blanc could give a hint towards the second leg depending on whether he plays Benjamin Stambouli there or tries Angel Di Maria a little deeper.
There is also a huge chance that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be rested. PSG need him at his best for the trip to England, there is no need for him to play on Saturday. Jean-Kevin Augustin or Hervin Ongenda could play in the front three.
Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Kevin Trapp; Serge Aurier, Marquinhos, David Luiz, Layvin Kurzawa; Benjamin Stambouli, Adrien Rabiot, Blaise Matuidi; Jean-Kevin Augustin, Edinson Cavani, Lucas Moura
Player to Watch
It has been a sensational season for the former France under-19 forward. After failing as a youngster at Lille, Yannis Salibur went down to the second division, playing for US Boulogne and then Clermont in Ligue 2, before making the step up to the top flight.
Not much was expected for the now-25-year-old, but he has surprised everyone. With seven goals and six assists, no one has both scored or created more goals than Salibur. He has shown to be physically strong, quick and possess a wonderful left foot.
Wherever he plays on Saturday, be it on the wing or in the front line, he will pose PSG a problem. Leave him free and he can trouble you from distance, plus he also adds a threat from set pieces. He will thrive on the chance to cause the champions problems, and any chance Guingamp have will come down to the success of Yannis Salibur.
Key Battle
Without Marco Verratti in the midfield and the possibility of resting Thiago Motta, PSG’s midfield trio will be far from full-strength on Saturday. Although Guingamp may be up against it if Gourvennec goes with 4-4-2, but in Younousse Sankhare and Mustapha Diallo, they have two powerful central midfielders who could ask a lot of questions of whoever Laurent Blanc starts.
Sankhare spent 10 years at the Parc des Princes, playing in the youth team for six. He managed 33 games for the Parisians, with a couple of loan spells in between.
He finally left the club in 2011 and made a name for himself in Ligue 2 for Dijon.
His galloping style and—when he is in the mood—hard-working attitude make him a very exciting player at times. Sankhare is still only 26, but you feel as if he has left it too late to move up to the next level.
However, he is a presence to be wary of. He is a box-to-box player, able to get up and down the pitch. His consistency is frustrating, but he has the ability to boss any midfield battle. If he is in the mood and wants to punish his old club, Saturday could be a great opportunity.
Benjamin Stambouli and Adrien Rabiot could be in for a tough afternoon, which is perhaps the best preparation before facing City on Tuesday.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Home: 101-25
Away: 100-133
Draw: 123-50
