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Paris Saint-Germain welcome Montpellier to the Parc des Princes on Friday evening with a potential fifth successive win in all competitions on offer for Luis Enrique’s side, and an opportunity to hop to the top of Ligue 1 Uber Eats before Nice and Monaco have the chance to respond this weekend.
Luis Enrique still looking for improvement
Kylian Mbappé’s brace last weekend against Stade Brestois was enough to save Les Parisiens from embarrassment away from home. Luis Enrique was far from happy with his side’s second half performance which saw the Bretons claw their way back from two goals down to level proceedings.
“The second half was without doubt PSG’s worst since I’ve been coach,” said the former Barcelona and Spain manager. “They put in a lot of crosses, dominated the aerial play, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Brest had won the game.”
Whilst PSG managed to win the game via a late Mbappé penalty, Enrique still thinks the French champions have room for improvement. “It’s quite simple, when you make it easy for the opposition, they will start to win duels, press, take risks… That’s an analysis we have to take into account if we want to keep improving.’
Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos could be set to return to action after missing out against Brest due to a groin injury, whilst the return of Warren Zaïre-Emery to domestic action saw the 17-year-old score a long-range stunner against Les Pirates. Meanwhile, with the return Champions League fixture against AC Milan in view, PSG could give minutes to Manuel Ugarte and Randal Kolo Muani in the starting XI. In terms of absences, PSG will be without Danilo Pereira for several weeks due to a hamstring injury whilst second goalkeeper Keylor Navas misses out due to lower back pain.
WATCH: Mbappé brace saves PSG’s blushes in Brest
Can former PSG man Sakho find a way back at Montpellier?
Former Liverpool and Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho found himself in hot water last week at the Hérault-based club following a training ground altercation with manager Michel Der Zakarien. The former PSG player returned to training several days ago after serving a temporary suspension for the bust-up with his coach.
“Nothing happened in the dressing room, just a little scuffle,” admitted the Armenian-born manager. “A lot more has been made out of it.” It will be seen whether Sakho will return to Montpellier’s squad to face his former side in the French capital.
Akor Adams is CRUSHING his first season with Montpellier 🇳🇬
⚽ 7 goals in 9 matches
👌 Three games scoring a brace
⏱️ Averages a goal every 101 minutes pic.twitter.com/hnSnbMRXM9
Montpellier defensively solid
Despite the off-pitch drama (including a point deduction for a firecracker incident against Clermont) Der Zakarian’s side eased past Occitane rivals Toulouse (3-0) in their previous Ligue 1 Uber Eats outing thanks to a double via the prolific Akor Adams. The latest Nigerian talent has now scored three braces in his last nine matches, with his seven goals placing him second to none other than PSG’s Kylian Mbappé (10) in the top scorer standings.
Whilst Montpellier have only two wins from their last seven outings, La Paillade have managed to keep three clean sheets in four matches. Their defensive solidity should be aided with the return of Maxime Estève to the backline, who couldn’t complete the full 90 minutes against Toulouse due to injury.
Elsewhere, Joris Chotard looks to have recovered from the muscular pain which saw him withdraw Montpellier’s squad to face TFC last weekend. Thus the only injury concern should be forward Arnuad Nordin for the away side’s visit to the French capital on Friday.
Probable line-ups
Paris Saint-Germain: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos (c), Skriniar, Hernandez; Lee, Ugarte, Zaire-Emery; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe.
Montpellier HSC: Lecomte; Sacko, Kouyate, Esteve, Sylla; Chotard, Ferri; Al-Tamari, Savanier (c), Fayad; Adams.
>>Who is Akor Adams, Montpellier’s new Nigerian star?
Top goals of Week 13 – Ligue 1 Uber Eats – 2023/2024
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN – AS MONACO (5-2) / Highlights (PSG – ASM) 2023/2024
OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE – LOSC LILLE (0-0) / Highlights (OM – LOSC) 2023/2024
MONTPELLIER HÉRAULT SC – CLERMONT FOOT 63 (1-1) / Highlights (MHSC – CF63) 2023/2024
MONTPELLIER HÉRAULT SC – CLERMONT FOOT 63 (1-1) / Reactions – 2023/2024
FC NANTES – HAVRE AC (0-0) / Highlights (FCN – HAC) 2023/2024
Goal Téji SAVANIER (86' pen – MHSC) / MONTPELLIER HÉRAULT SC – CLERMONT FOOT 63 (1-1) / 23/24
RC STRASBOURG ALSACE – OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE (1-1) / Highlights (RCSA – OM) 2023/2024
Goal Kylian MBAPPE (39' pen – PSG) / PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN – AS MONACO (5-2) / 23/24
CLERMONT FOOT 63 – RC LENS (0-3) / Highlights (CF63 – RCL) 2023/2024
STADE RENNAIS FC – STADE DE REIMS (3-1) / Highlights (SRFC – SdR) 2023/2024
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS – LOSC LILLE (0-2) / Highlights (OL – LOSC) 2023/2024
Goal Sepe Elye WAHI (11' – RCL) / CLERMONT FOOT 63 – RC LENS (0-3) / 23/24
MONTPELLIER HÉRAULT SC – STADE BRESTOIS 29 (1-3) / Highlights (MHSC – SB29) 2023/2024
MONTPELLIER HÉRAULT SC – CLERMONT FOOT 63 (1-1) / Press Conference – 2023/2024
Goal Jonathan Christian DAVID (28' – LOSC) / OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS – LOSC LILLE (0-2) / 23/24
FC LORIENT – FC METZ (2-3) / Highlights (FCL – FCM) 2023/2024
OGC NICE – TOULOUSE FC (1-0) / Highlights (OGCN – TFC) 2023/2024
Goal Maxime GONALONS (7' – CF63) / MONTPELLIER HÉRAULT SC – CLERMONT FOOT 63 (1-1) / 23/24
STADE RENNAIS FC – PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (1-3) / Highlights (SRFC – PSG) 2023/2024
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