A few days after qualifying for the Champions League semi-finals at Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to return to Ligue 1 and the Parc des Princes, where they will host Le Havre at 17:00 on Saturday 19 April. Covering the standings, form and players to watch, here's a preview of the match that awaits Les Rouge et Bleu against relegation battlers Le Havre.
THE TABLE
For their second consecutive season in the top flight, HAC are once again battling it out at the bottom of the table. However, with ten points picked up in their last six league games, the Normandy side are giving themselves every chance of achieving their goal of staying up. During this period, they have won away at Lens (3-4) and Montpellier (0-2), as well as beating Nantes at the Stade Océane (3-2). However, Le Havre's good run came to an abrupt end last week with a heavy defeat at home to Rennes (1-5). With 27 points from 29 games, Le Havre are in 16th place in Ligue 1 - the relegation play-off spot.
As for Paris Saint-Germain, the capital club is entering a new phase of its league campaign. Officially crowned French champions two weeks ago against Angers (1-0), Les Rouge et Bleu obviously have their minds on the Champions League and the Coupe de France. But with a record of 23 wins and five draws in the league, Luis Enrique's men seem to be driven by one final goal in the top flight: to finish the season unbeaten. And to keep believing in a feat never before achieved in France, the Parisians will have to start by defeating a Le Havre side on a mission.
The dynamics in NUMBERS
The opposing forces
Didier Digard and his team mainly play a 4-3-3 formation. In goal, Mathieu Gorgelin recently replaced Arthur Desmas, who was struggling. But after last week's defeat against Rennes, it is not impossible that former Clermont goalkeeper Gorgelin will be back between the sticks against the Parisians. In central defence, captain Arouna Sangante is doubtful for the match. The home-grown HAC hero has a groin injury but will try to hold his place alongside Gautier Lloris, who is unquestionable in his position.
However, if the Senegalese defender is unable to start at the Parc des Princes, he will be replaced by French international hopeful Étienne Youté Kinkoué. Hungarian international Loïc Nego is expected to start at right-back, while former Parisian Timothée Pembélé could line up on the opposite flank. The latter will be competing with AC Milan loanee Fodé Ballo-Touré, also a Paris Saint-Germain youth academy alumnus, for a starting place at left-back.
In midfield, however, the line-up seems to have already been decided. Indispensable to his team, Abdoulaye Touré (eight goals and one assist in Ligue 1 this season) will be in action, and he should be accompanied by Junior Mwanga, on loan from Strasbourg. The Le Havre midfielder will be joined by Moroccan international Yassine Kechta, while Rassoul Ndiaye and Mahamadou Diawara, on loan from OL since the winter, could make an appearance during the match. Despite being essential last season, Russian international Daler Kouziaïev no longer seems to feature in his coach's plans.
Trends are also emerging in the attacking line. Starting with the right wing, where Josué Casimir (three goals, five assists) will be one of the Normandy side's main threats. His role will be to feed André Ayew (four goals, one assist), who is the favourite to start at the tip of the HAC attack, relegating Ahmed Hassan and Ilyes Housni to the bench. Finally, on the left wing, Issa Soumaré (three goals, three assists) has been the preferred option in recent weeks, but the return of Antoine Joujou (two assists) could reshuffle the deck.
