Both looking to respond following defeats on their continental travels earlier in the week, Nice and Paris Saint-Germain will lock horns for a Ligue 1 clash at Allianz Riviera on Sunday night.
Les Aiglons were beat heavily at the home of Lazio on Thursday night, whilst Les Parisiens suffered defeat at the hands of Premier League title challengers Arsenal on Tuesday.
Match preview
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Ending up in fifth position last term - four points behind Lille in the final Champions League spot - Nice have been forced to settle for Europa League football during the 2024-25 season, with Sunday's hosts making a less-than-ideal start to life in UEFA's second-tier club competition.
A 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad on matchday one represented a respectable result, but Les Aiglons suffered their heaviest defeat of the season to date on Thursday night, when a brace from Valentin Castellanos helped Lazio to a 4-1 victory at a rainy Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Focusing on Ligue 1 matters, both of Nice's two domestic wins this campaign have arrived against the division's basement dwellers Angers and Saint-Etienne, meaning that Franck Haise's troops are yet to grind out a notable result from their opening eight competitive fixtures.
That being said, Les Aiglons should be relatively confident heading into this weekend's clash with the champions considering their form at Allianz Riviera, with the four-time Ligue 1 winners unbeaten in three matches at the venue across all competitions in 2024-25.
With star marksman Terem Moffi sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury until early April, Nice are relying on a host of their other attacking options to collectively step up to the goalscoring plate, with the likes of Evann Guessand, Youssoufa Moukoko and Jeremie Boga all capable of causing PSG problems on Sunday.
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After navigating their first seven matches of the 2024-25 schedule unscathed, PSG witnessed their unbeaten streak end at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, when Mikel Arteta's Arsenal secured a two-goal success courtesy of efforts from Kai Havertz and England sweetheart Bukayo Saka.
Speaking in purely Ligue 1 terms, Les Parisiens are still on for an invincible campaign after five wins and a draw from their opening six contests of the domestic calendar, meaning that they sit at the top of the pile, level on points with second-placed Marseille and Monaco in third.
Shouldering the goalscoring burden at the top end of the pitch for PSG since the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid over the summer, Bradley Barcola has netted six goals in as many Ligue 1 matches so far, despite scoring on just five occasions across all competitions in 2023-24.
There also needs to be a shoutout for recent arrival Joao Neves, who has slotted seamlessly into Les Parisiens' midfield during the opening weeks of the term, providing five assists during six league appearances, completing a formidable engine-room trio alongside Euro 2024 winner Fabian Ruiz and French prodigy Warren Zaire-Emery.
PSG have enjoyed recent trips to the Allianz Riviera, winning back-to-back matches at the home of Nice by an aggregate scoreline of 4-1 in recent times.
Team News
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Nice remain without the services of winger Gaetan Laborde, with the 30-year-old expected to be sidelined until early November due to a broken foot.
Les Aiglons are also unable to call upon the talents of full-back Melvin Bard, who played four Ligue 1 matches this season before picking up a thigh injury.
PSG are battling on without Portugal international Goncalo Ramos, with the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo's position for his nation recovering from an ankle issue.
Suffering a cruciate ligament injury during the Champions League semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund in May, Lucas Hernandez is targeting a return to action in the New Year.
Les Parisiens are short of options at centre-back due to the absence of Presnel Kimpembe, who is yet to kick a competitive ball for the visitors this season.
Nice possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Ndayishimiye, Bombito, Dante; Clauss, Rosario, Ndombele, Louchet; Guessand, Boga, Moukoko
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Zaire-Emery, Ruiz; Muani, Barcola, Lee
We say: Nice 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Only managing wins against Angers and Saint-Etienne so far this season, Nice have not proven their ability to earn a result against a top-class side.
PSG will be hurting after their defeat at Arsenal earlier in the week, and we reckon that Les Parisiens should have enough firepower to respond with a comfortable victory at Allianz Riviera.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
