What: French Ligue 1
Who: Saint Etienne vs Paris Saint-Germain
When: Sunday 17th March, 2013, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne, France
In-form Saint-Etienne Look for Hat-trick Against League Leaders
Christophe Galtier’s youthful and increasingly impressive Saint-Etienne side have begun 2013 fantastically and are unbeaten since January, enjoying their best start to a calendar year in 20 years. Much of that is down to the prolific form of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, the striker on whom Les Verts rely so much.
Saint-Etienne’s form is such that they are now just two points adrift of Marseille in third and they are looking genuine contenders to challenge for a spot in the qualifying round of the Champions League next season. And whilst most teams would shudder at the thought of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lucas Moura, Javier Pastore and company arriving in town, Saint-Etienne have no reason to fear, having already beaten the Parisians twice this season. Once was on penalties in the Coupe de la Ligue, but weeks earlier they became the first side to beat PSG all season when they visited the Parc des Princes and won 2-1.
Nine games without defeat in Ligue 1, much of that rests on Saint-Etienne’s sturdy defence and impressive character. They fought back from behind twice against Rennes – who they will meet in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue – last weekend to draw 2-2. Victory in that game will guarantee them a European spot next season, but a win this weekend will have them aiming higher still.
PSG March On Despite Sluggish Performances
PSG have extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 once again after last week’s action, going four points clear of Lyon, who are increasingly looking the most likely team to challenge Carlo Ancelotti’s side for the title. The irony will not be lost on Remi Garde’s side that they will be in the unusual position of cheering on their fierce rivals and hoping their neighbours can do them a favour here.
The Parisians’ victory over Nancy last weekend though was not straightforward, with the bottom side taking the lead at the Parc des Princes early on. Their struggle came after defeats to Sochaux and Reims in the league, as well as a draw against Valencia at home in the Champions League. They have emerged relatively unscathed – still clear at the top and now looking forward to a mouth-watering quarter-final on Europe’s biggest stage against Barcelona. But the cracks are emerging and the loss of Lucas Moura to injury will add to their concerns.
Also worrying for Ancelotti must be the rumours emanating this week that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has scored 24 goals in the league and was the saviour with a double against Nancy, is already disillusioned with life in Paris and may want to leave at the end of the season. Surely that has nothing to do with the arrival of fellow superstar David Beckham? The Englishman may get a chance to play here in the absence of Moura and whether the double act between him and Ibrahimovic can work is an intriguing back story as PSG look to clinch the title.
Recent form
Saint-Etienne:
Saint-Etienne 3-2 Lille (26/02; Coupe de France)
Saint-Etienne 4-0 Nice (02/03; Ligue 1)
Rennes 2-2 Saint-Etienne (08; 03 Ligue 1)
PSG:
Reims 1-0 PSG (02/03; Ligue 1)
PSG 1-1 Valencia (06/03; Champions League)
PSG 2-1 Nancy (09/03; Ligue 1)
Key absences
Saint-Etienne: Brandao (doubt); Jeremy Clement
PSG: Lucas Moura
Players to watch
Saint-Etienne – Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang: With eight goals in his last seven league games, the Gabonese forward now has 16 this season and has been the spearhead powering Saint-Etienne’s surge up the table. He has formed a great partnership up front with Brazilian Brandao, who is a doubt for this, but his power and pace mean he can thrive on his own as well. Aubameyang is the form striker in France, even ahead of Ibrahimovic, but has shown his unselfish nature as well by laying on seven goals for his team-mates this season. He will be key to his team’s hopes.
PSG – Ezequiel Lavezzi: The Argentine has proven himself one of Ancelotti’s most adaptable and impressive performers this season. After a slow start to life in Paris after signing from Napoli, he has impressed with his willing running and skill. Lavezzi has just three goals to his name but netted in both matches against Valencia in the Champions League and has three more in that competition, showing his big game mentality. In Moura’s absence, he will have added responsibility on his shoulders to help create havoc and space for Ibrahimovic.
Match Prediction
This game is an intriguing battle between France’s most successful side historically and the nouveau riche upstarts from the capital hoping eventually to dethrone them from that title. This is also a meeting of Ligue 1’s two meanest defences and the last clash between the sides was a goalless draw in the Coupe de la Ligue.
PSG have failed to score in just two league games this season, but much of that is thanks to Ibrahimovic. It is hard, looking at the statistics, not to conclude that this is a match about the battle between two forwards, one from Sweden and the other Gabon. It is also hard to believe they won’t both end this match without getting their name on the scoresheet.
Tactically, it is interesting to see how Ancelotti copes with the loss of Moura. Will he play Clement Chantome and Blaise Matuidi alongside Beckham, with Pastore and Lavezzi supporting Ibrahimovic up front? That would seem the logical solution, but would mean dropping Marco Verratti. Whatever Ancelotti decides, his team still lack cohesion. Playing 4-4-2 has helped but Beckham’s arrival has confused things. A week’s rest should help them in this game, having struggled with the demands of three matches per week, but Saint-Etienne are in great form and in Yohan Mollo they have one of France’s best and most in form young creators. Expect two tight defences to cancel each other out and a goal apiece for the country’s best forwards. Saint-Etienne 1-1 PSG.
Betting on Saint-Etienne v PSG? Make sure you bag a free bet at Inside Bet first!
