Panoramic
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN  Sirigu Bisevac, Lugano, Sakho, Maxwell Motta, Sissoko, Pastore Menez, Nene Gameiro | MONTPELLIER Jourdren Bocaly, Yangambiwa, Hilton, Bedimo Marveaux, Estrada Cabella, Belhanda, Utaka Giroud |
PSG hope to be able to welcome back Javier Pastore to their starting XI after injury but, if the Argentine is not fit to play, Mathieu Bodmer is liable to be given the nod, despite a knock picked up in the 1-0 Coupe de France win over Dijon on Wednesday. Christophe Jallet is a slight doubt after suffering a slight injury in midweek.
Siaka Tiene is back from the Africa Cup of Nations but is unlikely to be involved heavily.
Key Marseille central defender Hilton missed out on last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Ajaccio due to a last-minute problem, but the Brazilian is expected back in the squad for this clash after training much of the week. Benjamin Stambouli, the club’s Player of the Month for January, is likely to make way.
Geoffrey Dernis is the only player sidelined for Rene Girard’s men.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Paris Saint-Germain are top of Ligue 1, becoming the first club to reach the 50-point mark thanks to last weekend’s scoreless draw against Nice.
- The stalemate at the Stade du Ray was the first time that Les Parisiens have failed to win under Carlo Ancelotti, but they were back on track in midweek, beating Dijon 1-0 in the Coupe de France.
- Les Parisiens have twice lost at home in the league this
season, on both occasions by a 1-0 scoreline, going down against Lorient and Nancy.
- Nene has been their most prolific player at home, registering half of the club’s 22 league goals scored at Parc des Princes.
- On the seven occasions when they have scored the opening goal in front of their home fans this season, PSG have gone on to win the game.
- Although Montpellier have a poor record in Paris – winning only five of 22 away matches against PSG – they’re unbeaten in the City of Lights since winning promotion back to the top flight two seasons ago.
- Rene Girard’s side have been noted for their formidable home form, losing only once this term as they slipped to a 3-0 loss against Sunday’s opponents.
- With 45 goals to their credit, La Paillade are comfortably Ligue 1’s top scorers, bettering the tallies of Lille (40) and PSG (39).
- Olivier Giroud has contributed 16 of these goals, not to mention six assists.
- Montpellier are not all about offensive strength, though; since the turn of the year, they have played seven times and have yet to concede.
PSG start this match as significant favourites to win this game, but Montpellier have been confounding critics all season. Although MHSC’s home form has been the bedrock of their success, they have been impressive on the road, too, and their strong defensive record is nothing to be taken lightly. With PSG struggling to look offensively coherent, a tight game should be in the offing.
Editor's Prediction
PSG 1-1 Montpellier Herault SC 
