On the eve of their return to Ligue 1 action against AS Saint-Étienne at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium on Saturday 29th March, we take a closer look at this Ligue 1 Matchday 27 encounter. We'll analyse the standings, the dynamics of the game and the players to keep an eye on in the match that awaits our Parisians against the Verts, who are looking to avoid relegation.
The standings
Back in the top flight this season after a two-year absence, Saint-Étienne are fighting every weekend to try and hold on to their place in Ligue 1. But the challenge is a tough one for the Stéphanois, who have been struggling to pick up points in the second half of the season, as evidenced by their one and only win in 2025, a 3-1 victory over Reims at the start of the year. On the last matchday, the Forez outfit were on the verge of a return to winning ways at Montpellier (0-2), only for the match to be abandoned. Pending the outcome of this match, Les Verts are in 17th place in the league, 3 points away from safety.
For their part, Paris Saint-Germain took a huge step towards the title just before the international break, winning the Classique against Marseille for the second time this season, this time at the Parc des Princes (3-1). It was a precious victory for the club from the capital, their seventh in a row in the league, and one that means Luis Enrique's men are now 19 points clear at the top of Ligue 1. With an impressive record of 21 wins and 5 draws after 26 games, the Parisians will be looking to continue their unblemished run at Geoffroy-Guichard.
dynamics in numbers
opposing forces
Eirik Horneland and his team mainly play a 4-3-3 system. In goal, Gautier Larsonneur will of course be present against the Parisians. Les Verts captain should be joined in front of him by a central defence comprising Mickaël Nade and Maxime Bernauer, who arrived this winter on loan from Dinamo Zagreb. The French defender, who was part of the Rennes academy, seems to be preferred to Dylan Batubinsika and Yunis Abdelhamid, who were both indispensable at the start of the season.
Anthony Briançon, the former St Etienne captain has also been dropped. On the right side of defence, former French U-21 international Yvann Maçon is preferred to Dennis Appiah, and should once again start against Les Rouge et Bleu. On the opposite flank the hierarchy is also clearly established, with Léo Pétrot, the man responsible for the club's return to the top flight, starting. In midfield, on the other hand, the Norwegian coach has several options at his disposal. While he is particularly keen on Benjamin Bouchouari, who is expected to play as a box-to-box midfielder, it remains to be seen who will be chosen to play alongside him.
His Moroccan team-mate Aïmen Moueffek will no doubt be competing with the experienced Florian Tardieu in midfield, while Pierre Ekwah is the favourite to start deeper in the three-man midfield. With Igor Miladinovic suspended for the match, Lamine Fomba and Louis Mouton could also make an appearance. In attack, former Brest striker Irvin Cardona (2 goals and 1 assist in 6 Ligue 1 appearances) made his return to the Forez and immediately established himself as a starter on the right side, where he is preferred to Augustine Boakye (3 goals).
Heading up the attack, Belgian U-21 international Lucas Stassin (6 goals, 5 assists) is finally showing his worth in the league, which has meant that Malian international Ibrahim Sissoko (3 goals, 1 assist) has been dropped to the bench. Finally, on the left side, Zuriko Davitashvili will obviously be ASSE's main threat. The Georgian forward, who scored in the reverse fixture at the Parc des Princes, will be up against his international team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
