Paris v. Angers: A golden opportunity

A LOOK AT THE TABLE

Having won promotion to the French top flight last summer after just a year away, Les Angevins have certainly shown that they've got what it takes to compete with Ligue 1's regulars, but despite finding themselves in 13^th at the halfway point in the current campaign – ahead of their western neighbours Rennes and Nantes – Le SCO have been at something of a standstill for several weeks now, with four defeats in as many games and not a single goal scored in a chaotic March that saw them lose 4-0 at home to Toulouse, 2-0 away to Brest, 2-0 at home to Monaco and 3-0 at home to Rennes. Currently on 27 points, Les Noir et Blanc are just three points above 16^th (the relegation play-off spot) and four points ahead of 17^th (the top spot for direct relegation).

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain remain as unplayable as ever in the league. Having come away from Rennes with a 4-1 win almost a month ago, the capital club then shone in Le Classique by recording a 3-1 victory over Marseille. Following the international break, Luis Enrique's men were initially shaken by Saint-Étienne at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard but would eventually inflict a historic 6-1 defeat on Les Verts and, in doing so, have given themselves a shot at winning their 13^th French league title tomorrow, as long as they avoid defeat against the visitors.

THE TWO TEAMS' CURRENT FORM IN NUMBERS

THE OPPOSITION'S STRENGTHS

Alexandre Dujeux tends to set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. In goal, Ivory Coast international Yahia Fofana has established himself as Angers's first-choice keeper and is expected to have a centre-back pairing of Jordan Lefort and Abdoulaye Bamba in front of him at the Parc, with neither 19-year-old Emmanuel Biumla nor 31-year-old Cédric Hountondji fit enough for tomorrow's encounter. At right-back, Carlens Arcus will most probably line up at kick-off against Les Parisiens given that the Haiti international has regularly been preferred to Angers academy product Lilian Raolisoa, while over on the opposite side, the experienced 35-year-old Florent Hanin appears to have the upper hand over Gabon international Jacques Ekomié. 

In midfield, the visitors will be hoping to call upon the services of the ever-solid Jean-Eudes Aholou, who is a doubt for Saturday evening's match due to a knee problem but has been a key member of Le SCO's squad, just like Algeria international Haris Belkebla, who is unlikely to be able to hold onto his place in the team because of an injury in the arch of his right foot. To replace him, Yassin Belkhdim may well get the nod ahead of both ex-captain Pierrick Capelle and Zinédine Ould Khaled, who offers a more defensive profile and appears to sit lower in the Angers pecking order.

In the playmaker role, the indispensable Himad Abdelli, who has notched up six goals and one assist in Ligue 1 this season, is expected to make his return tomorrow alongside Esteban Lepaul, whose nine goals across all competitions in 2024–2025 could see him start in place of both Bamba Dieng, who has racked up five goals in the same period, and Ibrahima Niane, who, despite his three goals and one assist during the current campaign, has also been guilty of missing numerous chances in front of goal.

On the right wing, competition is fierce between two other African internationals: Jim Allevinah (one goal and three assists in 2024–2025) and Zinedine Ferhat (two goals and one assist in 2024–2025). It's difficult to know which of these two players will be prioritised by the Noir et Blanc coaching staff, and although the former can also stake a claim for a starting place on the left flank, the lively Farid El Melali (three goals and two assists in 2024–2025) seems to be the most plausible option in this position. So, there's your proof, if any more proof were needed, that Angers will almost certainly be at full strength in attack when they head to the French capital tomorrow.