Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Toulouse – prediction, team news, lineups

Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain return to action on Friday night, where they welcome Toulouse to the Parc des Princes.

Luis Enrique are under increasing pressure in the French capital because of their terrible start in the Champions League, but there can be no complaints about how the Parisians have started domestically.

Match preview

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Since Qatar’s takeover at PSG, one thing has been crystal clear – continental success is the main priority.

That is something current manager Enrique is not giving as PSG face the prospect of missing out on the knockout stages of the Champions League altogether.

At the halfway stage, PSG are 25th, with only the top 24 progressing to the knockouts, after a late 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the fourth leg.

With Bayern Munich on the horizon in midweek, it will be no surprise if their upcoming league meeting against Toulouse is something of an afterthought given that they are in a comfortable position domestically when they sit. six points ahead of Monaco in second place.

PSG were able to maintain that lead at the top by beating Angers 4-2 before the international break, a week after edging Lens 1-0, keeping a rare home clean sheet in the process.

It means the hosts now have the opportunity to keep a clean sheet in back-to-back home games for the first time in over a year, but to do so they will need to improve on their results against Toulouse from last season.

Carlos Martinezs side are the only team to have beaten PSG in Ligue 1 in 40 games, having done so in May at the end of last season.

It moved Toulouse to within four points of the 2023-24 champions and means the Violets could remain unbeaten against PSG in three consecutive games for the first time in over 15 years.

It’s also not out of the realm of possibility that it could happen again, given Toulouse’s recent form in Ligue 1.

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Back-to-back wins over Montpellier, Reims and Rennes, all without conceding, means Toulouse have the chance to win four league games in a row for the first time since 2010, and the club have also not kept four clean sheets in over 11 years.

It has been a stunning turnaround for Martinez’s men of late, with the three wins coming after securing just one in their opening eight games of the campaign.

Toulouse had just six points from a possible 24 and were in the relegation zone, but now find themselves just two points off the European places, putting a healthy buffer between themselves and the bottom three.

Reviving good away form has been key as Toulouse have now won nine away games in Ligue 1 in 2024 – the most the club have enjoyed in a calendar year in their history.

Capturing that form will be crucial in their next two games away from home, as after this trip to the champions, Martinez will then take his men to Monaco in their next away game.

Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form:

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

Team news

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Heavy rotation could be on the cards for PSG given the importance of their clash with Bayern in the Champions League in midweek.

Marquinhos should be fresh for him considering he will be serving a one match ban here and will watch the game on the sidelines with the injured trio Presnel KimpembeLucas Hernandez and Goncalo Ramos.

Willian Pacho missed the win over Angers and although he was able to play for Ecuador during the international break, his late return from South America means he will be a doubt here.

Ousmane Dembele should be fine to play despite not joining the French team and even though Randal Kolo Muani did, his poor recent form may see him start on the bench again, with Enrique preferring to go with a false nine recently.

After another excellent performance last time out in the 2-0 success in Rennes, Toulouse can remain unchanged here.

Danish defender Rasmus Nicolaisen is the only injury concern at the moment, but the visitors will have to check the fitness of Mark McKenzie (USA) and Gabriel Suazo (Chile), both of whom will report back late from international duty.

Paris Saint-Germain’s possible starting line-up:
Safonov; Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Skriniar, Zague; Joao Neves, Mayulu, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Asensio, Barcola

Toulouse possible starting line-up:
Left over; Kamanzi, Sidibe, Cresswell, Akdag, Donnum; Casseres, Sierra; Aboukhlal, King, Gboho

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Toulouse

Toulouse’s win here in May was their first at the Parc des Princes since 2008, and while they also held PSG to a draw earlier last season, they will be unlikely to repeat the feat again, even if the hosts rotate heavily.

Even when Enrique has mixed up the pack a bit for games in Ligue 1, they have looked even more impressive than when their full-strength side have been in Europe, so another win is on the cards here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, please click here.

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