Gameweek 36 of the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season concludes with Auxerre hosting Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps on Sunday evening, in a game that could potentially clinch title glory for the perennial champions.
Christophe Galtier's men enter the weekend six points clear of Lens at the top of the standings, while their hosts are dancing with the devil in 16th place, just one point clear of the dreaded dotted line.
Match preview
© Reuters
Had it not been for the heroics of Inter Milan loanee Ionut Radu, Auxerre's trip to Brest last weekend could have been a far more chastening affair for Christophe Pelissier's men, who were thanking their lucky stars to lose by just the one goal at the Stade Francis Le-Ble.
With 69 minutes on the clock, Radu kept out Steve Mounie's close-range header, but Jeremy Le Douaron was ready and waiting to pounce, prodding home the game's only goal in a 1-0 triumph for Les Pirates to prolong Auxerre's untimely winless streak.
Taking just two points from the last 12 on offer in the top division, AJA are teetering just above danger in 16th place - one spot and one point better off than Nantes in the final relegation spot - as the already-doomed Ajaccio, Troyes and Angers wait to learn who the fourth member of their Ligue 2-bound quartet will be.
An admirable streak of resilience since Pelissier took charge has at least allowed Auxerre to propel themselves out of the drop zone for the time being, as last weekend's reverse was just their third defeat from their last 13 Ligue 1 contests, all of which have come on rival territory.
Indeed, Pelissier's men will bring a six-game unbeaten run at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps into their meeting with PSG - taking points off of Lyon, Rennes and Lille in that timeframe - but such a sequence may not count for much against Galtier's title-chasing troops.
© Reuters
Another PSG game, another Achraf Hakimi red card, and another cacophony of boos directed at the returning Lionel Messi. The Argentine's apology for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia had evidently not rebuilt burned bridges with the Parisiens faithful, but elation soon took over as Galtier's side taught AC Ajaccio a footballing lesson.
Fabian Ruiz's smart finish, Hakimi's low strike, Mbappe's brace and a Mohamed Youssouf own goal contributed to a 5-0 trouncing of the visitors - who were relegated back to the second tier with that outcome - as PSG took another significant step towards confirming their status as top dogs again.
Entering the weekend six points clear of Lens and eight better off than Marseille, the champions will officially retain their title if they can better the former's result against Lorient this weekend, while victory for all three podium clubs would leave PSG needing just one point from their final two fixtures to lift the trophy aloft once more.
While Les Parisiens have often come up short at their Parc des Princes headquarters in 2023, Galtier's men travel to Auxerre having triumphed in each of their last five Ligue 1 away contests - scoring at least two goals on each occasion - although just two clean sheets from their last 10 on rival turf may offer their basement-battling hosts a shred of hope.
PSG barely needed to get out of second gear to thrash Auxerre 5-0 at the Parc des Princes in November, but they have peculiarly failed to win any of their three Ligue 1 contests at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps since a Stephane Sessegnon brace in a 2-1 triumph in the 2008-09 campaign.
Team News
© Reuters
Having come through their loss to Brest unscathed, Auxerre may only have the one fitness concern to factor in for the visit of PSG, as striker M'Baye Niang was unavailable last weekend through illness and will need closer assessment ahead of kickoff.
Goalkeeper Radu was a doubt prior to the trip to the Stade Francis Le-Ble due to a knee concern, but he passed a late fitness test before making a whopping nine saves on the day, albeit inconsequential ones.
However, striker Nuno Da Costa was only able to complete 64 minutes of the defeat to Les Pirates as Pelissier monitored a previous adductor concern, so an immediate recall for Niang might be in order if he can successfully fight off his bug.
No sooner after returning from the naughty step must Hakimi return to it, as after being given his marching orders against Lorient, the Moroccan also saw red for a skirmish with Ajaccio's Thomas Mangani last weekend; both players have been hit with two-game suspensions.
As ever, PSG will remain without their plethora of long-term absentees in Neymar (ankle), Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Nordi Mukiele (thigh) and Nuno Mendes (hamstring), while Timothee Pembele is still struggling with a knee injury, and his possible omission would leave Galtier incredibly short of options on the right-hand side again.
Teenage protege Warren Zaire-Emery will likely be drafted in to cover for the suspended Hakimi once more, while Hugo Ekitike is belatedly earning a run of starts in the first team and should form a three-man strikeforce with Messi and Mbappe once more.
Galtier also revealed in his pre-game press conference that Marco Verratti had been training individually due to a knee twinge, but he is confident that the Italian will be fit for the weekend.
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Radu; Raveloson, Jubal, Jeanvier, I. Toure, Mensah; B. Toure, M'Changama, Massengo; Hein, Niang
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Pereira, Marquinhos, Ramos; Zaire-Emery, Ruiz, Verratti, Bernat; Messi, Ekitike, Mbappe
We say: Auxerre 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Home may be where the heart is for Auxerre, but Pelissier's men were extremely fortunate to lose by just the one goal at Brest, and a more clinical side in PSG will no doubt make an equally passive performance pay.
The reigning champions may have to wait a little longer before their customary coronation, but a routine success over AJA will leave them on the brink of glory at the very worst.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
