The Paris club are missing many of their biggest stars. Can Angers make it back-to-back losses for the Parisiens?
Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to bounce back from their shock defeat at Rennes when they resume their 2021-22 Ligue 1 campaign Angers this Friday night in Paris. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are currently top of the table six points clear of second-placed Lens. Meanwhile, Angers occupy fourth, having already racked up 16 points during a great start to the season for the team from the Loire Valley!
In squad news, PSG had hoped to have Sergio Ramos fit for this clash, but the centre-back has still not joined first-team training, so he is highly unlikely to make his debut in this game.
Julian Draxler, Layvin Kurzawa, and Ismeal Gharbi are also injury worries, but there is a chance that Juan Bernat could be in the squad, having come back from a serious knee injury.
PSG must do without Lionel Messi, Leandro Paredes, Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Marquinhos, and Keylor Navas because of international commitments. However, Kylian Mbappe, Presnel Kimpembe, and Marco Verratti should all play. There could also be a start in midfield for Geoginio Wijnaldum.
Meanwhile, Angers will again be missing Zinedine Ould Khaled for this fixture due to a thigh problem, but the visitors have no other injury concerns heading into this showdown in the French capital.
Stephane Bahoken came off the bench to score his second league goal of the season against Metz before the international break, and the forward will be hopeful of starting here.
Head coach Gérald Baticle is expected to stick with the majority of the side that started against Metz, so 17-year-old Mohamed-Ali Cho should be featuring in attack again in Paris.
Angers are certainly capable of troubling a depleted PSG, but the home side will still have plenty of quality in their ranks. Pochettino’s team will be desperate to bounce back from their defeat to Rennes, and we are backing the league leaders to collect all three points. Our prediction is 2-0 to PSG!
