PSG vs Saint-Etienne

Seeking redemption following last weekend’s Ligue 1 embarrassment, PSG welcome relegation-battling Saint-Etienne to the Parc des Princes for another French classic.

Runaway Ligue 1 leaders PSG showed they are not as indestructible as it looked, falling to a dreadful 3-1 defeat away to Nantes last time out as their run of four league wins finally came to a halt. Yet, ‘Les Parisiens’ have already removed doubts regarding the title run-in, with a staggering 13-point lead on second-placed Marseille looking unbridgeable at this point. Though the abovementioned fiasco at Nantes ended Paris’ 15-game unbeaten Ligue 1 streak, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are still the only side in France’s top-flight to go undefeated in every league match at home this season (W11, D1). Curiously, though, despite boasting arguably the fiercest attacking line-up in European football, PSG have the second-best attacking record in home Ligue 1 action this season after scoring 28 goals from 12 league games at the Parc des Princes.

On the other hand, Saint-Etienne’s topsy-turvy 2-2 home draw with Strasbourg last time out halted their three-game winning streak in Ligue 1, but things are looking far better for the visitors. Indeed, before racking up three victories from their last four Ligue 1 outings, ‘Les Verts’ had only won once in their opening 21 league fixtures this season (D6, L13). Therefore, it’s unsurprising that they enter this round harbouring a slim one-point lead on 18th-placed Lorient. Yet, St Etienne have won their last two away league matches by an aggregate score of 3-1, with those six points amassed from those travels eclipsing their haul of five from their inaugural ten Ligue 1 road trips this term. However, they are winless in their last 25 meetings with PSG in all competitions (D6, L19).