PSG boss Luis Enrique will aim to get some stability in place and put together a consistent run of results, starting with a home clash with Le Havre.
PSG blew away teams last season to win the treble, including the domestic cup, Ligue 1 and the Champions League; however, there have been some issues going around this term, probably owing to their deep participation in the Club World Cup, which has since resulted in key injuries and niggling fitness issues ahead of the game against Le Havre this weekend.
As for their results, Les Parisiens have cut in close on many occasions, especially in Ligue 1, where they usually take some time to settle down before going on a relentless run of their own. Currently, after 12 rounds, PSG find themselves at the top of the standings, but they are only a point ahead of nearest challenger Marseille.
However, with the Ligue 1 champions playing three of their next four games on home soil, this is an opportunity for Enrique to get things in order and find some much-needed rhythm. Starting with the Le Havre clash on home soil, the PSG manager will expect a start to a good run moving forward.
Didier Digard’s men have been consistent this season, and the fact that they have accumulated two points more than last season at this very juncture is proof. Le Havre are unbeaten in their last four games in Ligue 1, and they have accumulated 14 points in the process so far, which places them 12th in the standings.
Digard has also instilled defensive discipline in his team, which has seen them concede a goal or fewer in their last four matches in Ligue 1. With a stringier defence, Digard could hope to get something from this game in Paris, but the odds are stacked against Le Havre heading into Saturday’s fixture.
They are also solid defensively away from home, having conceded just once in their last three trips, while they have also come back from behind to earn a point on two separate occasions this season. Overall, PSG are the favourites on paper, but this could be a tricky fixture by all means, as Digard will want something of that sort on Saturday.
Team News & Tactics
PSG
PSG continue to miss some of their key stars for the time being, with Desire Doue absent with a hamstring problem. Ousmane Dembele is also out of contention as things stand with a calf problem, while Achraf Hakimi continues to recover from the ankle problem he suffered against Bayern Munich.
Moreover, Nuno Mendes might not recover from his knee issue in time to make the matchday squad for PSG against Le Havre. So, Luis Enrique is left to find solutions to four key positions in his starting lineup.
Enrique could continue using Warren Zaire-Emery in the right-back role in Hakimi’s absence, while Lucas Hernandez is best-placed to replace Mendes on the other full-back position. In the attacking setup, Ibrahim Mbaye could compete with Lee Kang-in for a place on the right wing, with the former likely to get the nod.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will feature on the left flank, while Goncalo Ramos will lead the line for PSG against Le Havre in the absence of Dembele. As for the midfield unit, Enrique is unlikely to change his setup, with Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Joao Neves set to keep their places.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Chevalier; Zaire-Emery, Zabarnyi, Pacho, Hernandez; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Mbaye, Ramos, Kvaratskhelia
Le Havre
Le Havre have a clean bill of health with their squad, as the only one with a doubt is Mbwana Samatta, who has a thigh strain to deal with ahead of the game against PSG. The other doubt for this clash is Andy Logbo with a shoulder problem, although he is widely expected to turn up fit for this game.
Didier Digard will take a late call on the duo with regard to their participation, as a late assessment is expected. The most recent game saw Gautier Lloris, the brother of former France skipper Hugo Lloris, score a late equaliser to rescue a point against Nantes. The defender is set to take his place alongside Arouna Sangante in Le Havre’s central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Ayumu Seko, Yassine Kechta and Abdoulaye Toure will hold the fort in the middle of the park. Rassoul Ndiaye will reprise the attacking midfield role, while Issa Soumare and Felix Mambimbi will lead the line in a two-pronged attacking setup for Le Havre against PSG.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Diaw; Nego, Lloris, Sangante, Zouaoui; Seko, Kechta, Toure; Ndiaye; Soumare, Mambimbi
Key Stats
Paris Saint-Germain have won ten of their last 11 matches against Le Havre in all competitions.
Paris Saint-Germain have scored at least two goals in their last eight matches against Le Havre in all competitions.
Le Havre are unbeaten in their last four Ligue 1 games.
Le Havre have conceded a goal or fewer in each of their last four matches in Ligue 1.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Embed from Getty Images
The Georgian international will have been disappointed at his nation’s failure to remain alive in the race to clinch a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and he must now focus his energy towards the schedule in club football. With a series of injuries affecting PSG’s attack, Luis Enrique is likely to look at Kvaratskhelia to provide some answers.
Goals are probably what Enrique wants from Kvaratskhelia heading into the next few games, which could see players Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele miss out. The Georgian is probably the de facto leader of this PSG attack ahead of this weekend, and the fans will want him to be at his best against Le Havre.
Prediction
PSG 3-0 Le Havre
Irrespective of how Le Havre have played over the last few weeks and their unbeaten four-game run, trips to Paris to take on PSG are always going to be tricky. Not only do they catch the Parisians at a time when they want to stabilise things a bit, but also when Luis Enrique wants a clear-cut answer from his players on their current form.
PSG are now sitting and staring at the prospect of three games at home in their next four fixtures, and Enrique will want to bring some stability into the group. Hence, this game against Le Havre is key, and while the hosts are missing two of their key forwards, they are still widely expected to run riot on Saturday.