Gazelec Ajaccio vs. PSG: Team News, Preview, Livestream and TV Info
While all eyes in Ligue 1 are likely to be fixed on the battle for UEFA Champions League qualification on Saturday, minnows Gazelec Ajaccio will be hosting French champions Paris Saint-Germain for the first time ever in Le Championnat and fighting for their lives.
If the Corsicans can somehow beat the men from the capital, then the islanders’ place in the top flight next season will almost certainly be secure.
With SC Bastia facing potential forced relegation this summer—for the second consecutive year—because of financial irregularities, as reported by Le Parisien (h/t Get French Football News), Corsican representation in Ligue 1 could depend on Gazelec’s results against PSG and FC Lorient.
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Date: Saturday, May 7
Time: 9 p.m. CET (8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET)
Venue: Stade Ange Casanova, Mezzavia, Ajaccio, France
TV Info: beIN Sports Max 5 (France) and beIN Sports (USA)
Livestream: beIN Sports Connect
Preamble
Although this match looks like a dead rubber from the outside, the reality is this is an extremely important encounter for hosts Gazelec.
If Thierry Laurey’s men can beat PSG, then they would be almost certain of their Ligue 1 status for next season going into their final game of the campaign away at FC Lorient.
Les Parisiens have nothing left to play for in Le Championnat, but as we have seen from them on a number of occasions since sealing their latest French title away at ESTAC Troyes, they do not need to be at their best to see off some of the league’s stronger sides.
If Laurent Blanc’s men decide to even remotely tap into their immense potential, then they could easily wipe the floor with Ajaccio at Stade Ange Casanova.
However, it is unlikely the capital club will be fully focused on beating their Corsican hosts on Saturday. With Gazelec fighting for their lives, their sheer determination to get a point or better to count towards survival could be enough to overcome a disinterested PSG.
Form Lines
Gazelec
L 0-2 vs. AS Saint-Etienne (Ligue 1)
D 0-0 vs. Angers SCO (Ligue 1)
L 2-4 vs. Lille OSC (Ligue 1)
W 3-2 vs. SC Bastia (Ligue 1)
L 2-1 vs. Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1)
PSG
L 1-0 vs. Manchester City (Champions League)
W 6-0 vs. SM Caen (Ligue 1)
W 0-1 vs. FC Lorient (Coupe de France)
W 2-1 vs. Lille OSC (Coupe de la Ligue)
W 4-0 vs. Stade Rennais (Ligue 1)
Predicted Formations
"Ajaccio-Paris : les compos probables (LeParisien L'Équipe) #GFCAPSG #PSG pic.twitter.com/53sjxtRnsm
— Paris No Limit™ (@ParisNoLimit) May 7, 2016"
Gazelec (5-3-2 or 4-4-2): Maury; Coeff, Filippi, Mangane, Martinez/Djokovic (Djokovic in midfield if 4-4-2), Sylla; Le Moigne, Poggi (c), Ducourtioux; Zoua, Boutaib.
PSG (4-3-3): Trapp; Aurier, Marquinhos, Silva (c)/Luiz, Maxwell; Motta, Stambouli, Rabiot/Nkunku; Di Maria, Ibrahimovic (captain if Silva does not start), Cavani.
Player to Watch
Although he is not expected to start against PSG, Gazelec’s Gregory Pujol is a player to keep an eye on—if Laurey brings him off the bench.
At 36 years of age, the Frenchman may soon be close to retirement. However, as he showed with a brilliantly well-taken goal just moments after coming on as a half-time substitute in the 2-1 loss away at Lyon last weekend, he still knows how to find the back of the net.
In a relegation battle, you need players capable of scoring goals regularly and Pujol has shown that he can do that over a long and storied career in Ligue 1.
It would be a fantastic achievement for the former Valenciennes FC, CS Sedan Ardennes and FC Nantes man if he could score against PSG to help secure a point or more, which ultimately helped to save Ajaccio from an immediate return to Ligue 2.
Key Battle
Even though PSG are unlikely to be fully focused on beating Gazelec, the French champions can still pick their Corsican hosts apart if they feel in the mood to do that.
If Ajaccio are to stand any chance of beating—or even drawing—with their illustrious visitors, then they will have to dominate the midfield.
With Marco Verratti, Blaise Matuidi and Javier Pastore all out injured, Blanc is likely to start with Thiago Motta, Adrien Rabiot, Benjamin Stambouli or Christopher Nkunku.
Although Les Parisiens’ potential three-man unit with any of those options is very good on paper, a trio comprised of three of those four players—if not in the mood to fight against a motivated Gazelec midfield—could come unstuck at Stade Ange Casanova.
Ajaccio must show more heart and desire to beat PSG on Saturday. Laurey’s men will never outplay Blanc’s, but they can show more desire than the men from the capital, and that is how they could spring a surprise this weekend.
Odds
Gazelec: +740
PSG: -256
Draw: +356
Odds via OddsShark.com
