Paris Saint-Germain Have Plenty to Prove in Showdown with Ligue 1 Leaders Nice
The union of Unai Emery, the architect of Sevilla's unprecedented success in the Europa League, and Paris Saint-Germain, France's most decorated club, was intended to be a fast track to European glory.
Some teething problems were expected, too, but Emery's Parisians now stand on the precipice of crisis.
They are the four-time defending French champions who had the title won by mid-March last season.
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With their financial clout and other institutional advantages, they have easily swept aside all domestic challengers for half a decade, but that accustomed dominance is proving elusive this season.
Instead of Paris, Nice sit top of Ligue 1.
Lucien Favre's Nice are four points ahead of the champions, who they trailed by 17 points at the same point last season, and present a real challenge to PSG's hard-won sense of invincibility.
Such a reputation takes far longer to build up than to break down.
Consider Manchester United's imperious Premier League record, how renowned they were for never being beaten, and then remember how rapidly that disappeared when Sir Alex Ferguson left the club.
It is too early to suggest that Emery is presiding over the dismantling of PSG's French empire, but there is growing cause for alarm, and the boos of the crowd at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday make that fact plain.
Paris have been humiliated in their last two matches.
The historic 3-0 humbling at the hands of Montpellier last weekend was followed up with the shocking home performance against Ludogorets Razgrad that saw the Parisians surrender top spot in their Champions League group.
When the fixtures were announced before the beginning of the season, Nice away to Paris attracted little attention.
After all, Nice were whipped home and away last season, with Paris winning both meetings by three clear goals.
Les Aiglons enjoyed their best campaign in decades in 2015-16 but still finished 33 points behind Paris.
PSG snatched up their inspirational star Hatem Ben Arfa in the summer, while manager Claude Puel departed for the Premier League.
Nominative determinism in action, the Eagles have flown over those hurdles and ahead of all their rivals after 16 rounds of the championship.
The addition of Younes Belhanda, on loan with an option to buy from Dynamo Kiev, has been vital.
Three goals and as many assists are not headline-grabbing statistics, but Belhanda's disciplined performances from his attacking midfield role have caught the eye.
His combination with Jean Seri in midfield has been the driving force behind the Eagles' unexpected flight.
Summer signing Mario Balotelli, who is fit again after missing several weeks through injury, has not been a catalyst but has proved to be a useful addition.
He has six goals in as many appearances, while Alassane Plea has contributed nine in 13 starts.
Rather than seeking to replace Ben Arfa directly, Nice have evolved.
The visitors appear confident ahead of this test of their title credentials.
Speaking with Vincent Menichini of Nice-Matin (in French), Belhanda threw down a challenge to the Parisian faithful, saying that "it will feel like a home game with our travelling supporters."
The last time Belhanda brought a title-challenging outsider to the Parc, Montpellier in 2012, he scored in a crucial 2-2 draw.
Montpellier famously beat Carlo Ancelotti's PSG to the title on the final day of that season.
This is now a meeting of seismic importance.
Defeat would open an unacceptable seven-point gap between the leaders and PSG and represent a third consecutive disastrous result.
Edinson Cavani admitted the importance of this match in conversation with RMC Sport (in French).
The Uruguayan, who leads Ligue 1's scoring charts, said that as "one of the biggest clubs in the world, we have to win."
If not, Emery could pay with his job, as QSI have shown each of his predecessors the door for less.
While PSG have been underwhelming all season, results took a turn for the worse when Marco Verratti succumbed to injury.
He was absent for the scratchy win over Angers as well as the Montpellier fiasco and the Ludogorets draw.
In his absence, as well as that of Adrien Rabiot, Paris lack a brain to control their midfield.
They still possess the pace, strength and skill of their other star players, but there is nobody capable of knitting it all together.
Thiago Motta moves nicely and keeps the ball bouncing around, but he lacks the inspiration that Verratti and Rabiot bring.
Emery tried playing without an organising midfielder against Montpellier and introduced Ben Arfa as a No. 10 in the Champions League.
Both experiments were underwhelming.
It has been rumoured that Verratti could return to face Nice on Sunday, as reported by ParisTeam.fr (in French), but it remains to be seen whether he will be fully fit in time.
If he fails to make it, Emery should retain the shape used against Ludogorets while rotating back in the several starters who were, unwisely, rested for that match.
Regardless of Verratti's fitness, it is imperative that Emery retains the 4-2-3-1 he deployed against the Bulgarians in midweek.
When he has opted for the flat line of three in midfield, it has generally resulted in a listlessness and lack of control that Nice will exploit.
The visitors also normally play in a simple 4-3-3 formation, with Belhanda and Valentin Eysseric attacking from wide areas.
Deploying in four lines allows PSG to find space when attacking Nice and provides the protection that will be required.
Dante's accurate long passing out of defence is an effective weapon and, given the sudden fragility of Paris' defence, will be dangerous on Sunday.
So, too, are the full-backs Ricardo Pereira and Dalbert Henrique. They have four assists this season between them.
Emery switched Angel Di Maria and Lucas Moura from their normal flanks against Ludogorets in an attempt to have them attack on the outside and expand the pitch.
That was not effective against the Bulgarians, but Emery should use the same ploy to pin back Les Aiglons' full-backs.
Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Alphonse Areola all have points to prove after a run of distinctly underwhelming performances.
If Paris can survive Nice, and the midweek Coupe de la Ligue tie at home to Lille, they have only two winnable league fixtures before the festive break and the beginning of the transfer window.
January is an opportunity to reinforce and resolve some of the mistakes made this summer, but if Emery's side fall at home to Nice, there is a good chance that he won't be there to lead the efforts.
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