The preview: Clermont-Paris

THE TABLE

After two good wins against RC Lens (3-1) and Olympique Lyonnais (1-4), Paris Saint-Germain were caught out by OGC Nice at home (2-3), but got back to winning ways with a stunning 4-0 wn over Marseille last Sunday.

It took Paris onto 11 points after six games, and up to third in the table. Luis Enrique's men have the same number of points as AS Monaco, and are two behind leaders Stade Brestois 29.

Clermont have had a tough start to this season. After finishing eighth last term, they picked up a draw at Toulouse (2-2) before losing to FC Nantes (0-1) and Le Havre AC (2-1). With just a single point, CF63 are bottom of the table, a point behind Lyon and three adrift of Lens. 

THE LAST GAME

The two sides last met on 3 June this year, the final day of last season. After the visitors had a goal ruled out, Sergio Ramos fired home the opening goal from a Vitinha cross (1-0, 16'). A few minutes later, the Rouge-et-Bleu doubled their lead through a penalty won by Achraf Hakimi and scored by Kylian Mbappé (2-0, 21'). A mistake by the home defence allowed Johan Gastien to get back into the game (2-1, 24') before Clermont equalised just before half-time through former Lyon man Mehdi Zeffane (2-2, 45+1'). In the second half, Leo Messi tried twice to beat Mory Diaw in the opposing goal without success before Grejohn Kyei punished the home side by scoring his team's third following Elbasan Rashani's pass (2-3, 63'). The Parisians weren't able to get back on level terms, but having wrapped up the league title a week before at Strasbourg, it was still mission accomplished. 

OPPOSITION STRENGTHS

Pascal Gastien and his team usually set up in two systems: 3-5-2 and 3-4-3. Mory Diaw is in his second season as first-choice goalkeeper. The Senegal international, who was at the Paris Saint-Germain youth academy, has the lowest save ratio in the league (60%), and has yet to record a clean sheet six games into the league season.

Andy Pelmard and Alidu Seidu have played every minute so far this season. The former has a team-high 13 clearances this season, while the Ghana international alongside him has the most tackles (12). Max Caufriez or the experienced Florent Ogier usually fill the other position in the three-man backline.

At right wing-back, Cheick Oumar Konaté (19) has recently been first-choice and scored his first senior goal, though normally Zeffane is the man selected. The Algeria international, also formerly of Rennes, boasts the most successful challenges in the squad (87.5%). On the left, midfielder Jim Allevinah has recently been selected for the role. Neto Borges, however, is the more usual pick, but his fitness concerns may mean he misses out.

In midfield, the duo of Johan Gastien and Maxime Gonalons hold things together. The former has had the most touches of any of his team (457), while the former France and OL midfielder alongside him has not lost a single aerial duel this season. If Gastien Sr. goes for a midfield three, Yohann Magnin is likely to be his choice.

The midfield make-up will dictate how things look up front. If there's two men in the centre of the park, Clermont will likely have a three-man frontline with Bilal Boutobba or Rashani on the left. Austria international Muhammed Cham has established himself on the opposite flank, and could also play in a front two if needed.

Kyei scored 10 goals and had four assists last season, and who else would start through the middle? He could be replaced by Shamar Nicholson, the Jamaica international who arrived this summer from Spartak Moscow, and got an assist last weekend.

OUSMANE DEMBELE vs. MUHAMMED CHAM

The two wide men will have a duel at distance over the 90 minutes. The France international has put in a shift for the team with two interceptions compared to the Clermont man's zero, and has made 14 ball recoveries. He also recorded his first assist for the club in the Classique win last Sunday.

Cham is undoubtedly Clermont's main threat. With great acceleration and agility, he has averaged 61 touches per games this season, and has had 26 moves leading to a shot in six appearances. He'll be the one to watch for the Parisian defence.