After clinching the Trophee des Champions last Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain return to Ligue 1 action this weekend as they welcome Saint-Etienne to the Parc des Princes.
Having secured the domestic double in 2023-24, the Parisians faced last season's league runners-up Monaco in the French Super Cup, winning the trophy for the 11th time in 12 years.
Match preview
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A stoppage-time goal by Ousmane Dembele earned PSG a 1-0 win over Les Monegasques, ensuring Luis Enrique's side now hold all available domestic trophies.
While repeating this feat for a second consecutive season might seem premature to call, the reigning champions show no signs of fatigue in their bid to maintain dominance as they remain well placed in both domestic competitions this term.
Prior to their Super Cup triumph, the Parisians progressed to the next phase of the Coupe de France after defeating Lens on penalties, having drawn 1-1 in regulation time.
In Ligue 1, PSG currently sit at the summit as the only side yet to taste defeat this campaign, with a seven-point cushion over second-placed Marseille.
Their most recent league outing saw them claim a 4-2 away victory against Monaco on December 18, bringing their total tally to 40 points after 16 matches, with 12 wins and four draws.
Next on the schedule is their first league fixture of the new calendar year, against a side they have beaten 43 times in 81 top flight meetings, having recorded more victories only against Metz (46) and Nantes (44).
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Travelling to the Parc des Princes - a fortress where PSG have won seven of their eight games this season - would unsettle any opponent, though Saint-Etienne may hope their new manager bounce lasts beyond a single game.
Eirik Horneland, appointed on December 20 following the dismissal of Olivier Dall'Oglio, made a winning start as the Greens' head coach with a 3-1 victory against Reims in his debut match last weekend.
That result ended a four-match losing streak across all competitions for Les Verts and lifted them out of the relegation zone, where they now sit 15th with 16 points, one clear of 16th-placed Nantes.
In their bid to steer clear of the drop zone, Saint-Etienne will be hoping to benefit from PSG's poor record in recent first league matches of a calendar year, with the Parisians failing to win three of the last four such encounters.
However, the visitors' dreadful away form leaves little room for optimism, as they have suffered seven defeats and managed just one draw from eight games on the road, making them the side with the second-worst away record in the division.
Team News
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With no player currently injured or suspended, manager Enrique has a wealth of options at his disposal and could look to freshen up his attack.
Bradley Barcola, the second-joint top scorer in the league, may be recalled to the starting XI after coming off the bench in PSG's last two outings, while Goncalo Ramos is also pushing for a spot in the central forward role.
Super Cup hero Dembele is all but certain to start, with the French winger set to cause trouble for Saint-Etienne down the flank.
As for the visitors, Ibrahim Sissoko remains unavailable as he continues to serve his seven-match suspension following his dismissal against Marseille in the French Cup.
Several Sainte players will miss this weekend's match through injury, including Mathis Amougou, Ibrahima Wadji, Yvann Macon, Ben Old and Thomas Monconduit, with all expected to return later in the month.
Manager Horneland could stick with the winning side from their previous game, with Augustine Boakye, who struck twice in that match, likely to retain his place on the wing.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Dembele, Ramos, Barcola
Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur; Batubinsika, Nade, Petrot, Appiah; Mouton, Ekwah; Boakye, Bouchouari, Cafaro; Stassin
We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Saint-Etienne
PSG enter this encounter as clear favourites, buoyed by their record against the Greens and their formidable form on home turf.
The visitors, despite experiencing a manager bounce following their recent success against Reims, are expected to struggle given their dismal away form, compounded by a porous defence that has shipped 27 goals - the highest in the division - making a home win the likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
