Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Reims – prediction, team news, lineups

Just days after a thrilling win in Europe, Paris Saint-Germain return to Ligue 1 action with a home clash against Reims on Saturday night.

Luis Enrique‘s men are striding clear at the top of the standings, but have had some difficulty in this fixture in recent years.

Match preview

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It was an electric night at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, as PSG beat Manchester City 4-2 to put them on the verge of reaching the Champions League knockout stages.

A ninth straight win in all competitions, that started with a vital success over Red Bull Salzburg on matchday six, means PSG now need just a point against Stuttgart next week to make absolutely sure of their progression.

Despite going 2-0 down early in the second half, the Parisians fought back, with Joao Neves scoring the goal that completed the turnaround, and Goncalo Ramos netting a late clincher.

For the time being, focus will switch back to domestic matters, and it seems only a matter of time from this point before PSG seal yet another Ligue 1 title.

After coming from behind to beat Lens last weekend, PSG then saw Marseille drop points at home to Strasbourg, meaning their lead at the top stretched out to nine points.

Still unbeaten this season after 18 games, PSG have taken 46 points from a possible 54, and are now in an almost unassailable position at the summit.

Since the start of last season, PSG have only lost two league matches, with only Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray suffering as few defeats in Europe’s top-10 leagues in that time.

Reims could offer a threat to that record though, given that they have left the Parc des Princes with a point in both of the last two seasons.

PSG have not gone three straight home games versus a single opponent without a win since a run against Bordeaux between 2010 and 2012, illustrating just how impressive Reims’ recent form has been here.

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This season though, the Red and Whites have found the going tough, as they are currently in the midst of a seven-game winless run – the longest of any club in Ligue 1.

It is almost four years since Reims went on a winless streak as long as this, and their last three results in particular are cause for concern.

Defeat to Saint-Etienne and Nice saw Reims ship seven goals, before drawing at home to the most out-of-form side in Ligue 1, Le Havre, last weekend.

Away form is also a worry, given that they have taken just four points from their last five games, losing three, which is as many as they had suffered in the previous 11.

This form has seen Luka Elsner‘s side fall to 13th, just four points above the drop, and if they are to extend their excellent run at the Parc des Princes, they will need to be clinical in attack, because PSG have scored in 25 straight Ligue 1 games.

Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form:

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

Reims Ligue 1 form:

Reims form (all competitions):

Team News

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Enrique would have been delighted to have Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi all available to him in midweek despite fitness concerns, but those three could be rested here to ensure they are in top condition for Wednesday.

New signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is also now available for the first time after being unregistered in midweek, but he missed the last few Napoli games before his move, so fitness is a worry.

With no injuries to any senior players, Enrique has a strong squad available to him in order to rotate, and many of the players who played in the second half against City could get the night off.

Reims have a few players set to miss out with injury, including midfield partners Yaya Fofana (ankle) and Amadou Kone (hamstring).

In attack, Mohamed Daramy remains sidelined with a knee injury, joining Reda Khadra, who has tore his ACL, in the treatment room.

After Emmanuel Agbadou‘s move to Wolves, fellow defender Thibault De Smet has also left the club in the past week, joining Paris FC on loan.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Lucas Beraldo, Pacho, Hernandez, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Mayulu, Fabian Ruiz; Asensio, Goncalo Ramos, Lee

Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Aurelio Buta, Okumu, Kipre, Sangui; Munetsi, Atangana Edoa, Teuma; Ito, Diakhon, Nakamura

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Reims

Enrique will likely rotate slightly here with one eye on the trip to Stuttgart on Wednesday, but even their second string should have enough to sweep Reims aside here.

The visitors have been out of sorts lately, and missed the chance to arrest their poor run by failing to beat Le Havre at home last weekend, and tasks do not get much larger than this in French football.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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