PSG to experience international break hangover
League leaders Paris Saint-Germain travel to the South of France to take onNice who sit eighth just two points off the European spots in Ligue 1despite a recent poor run. Both sides welcome back many of their stars from international duty hoping for minimal fatigue and or injury concerns, as they look to kick on in multiple competitions, such as the opening round of the Coupe de la Ligue for top flight clubs and the Champions League where PSG travel across the border to Belgium next week. PSG are favourites to take all three points on Friday evening however they will need to pick up where they left off to avoid another slip up like their recent 2-0 loss to Reimsat the Parc des Princes.
Recent form
Patrick Vieira’s Nice will look to gloss over their poor form of late with a positive result against the financial Ligue 1 giant that is PSG, having only managed four points from their last five matches. One positive in that stretch is that summer signing from Ajax Kasper Dolberg, managed to get off the mark by scoring in their last two home games. A 2-1 win over 19thplaced Dijon and a 1-1 with last season’s runners-up Lille. However, the key player for The Eaglets has been classy central midfielder Wylan Cyprien who has come on leaps and bounds under the former World Cup winner.
Wylan Cyprien
The 24-year-old has been one of the French top flight’s biggest bargains in recent years, Nice acquired his services from Lens in July 2016 for just £4.5million and he is already nearing 100 appearances for the club.
With 18 goals and nine assists from central midfield in 94 games he is arguably the best midfielder outside PSG in the division. Hitting the ground running in 2019/20 with three goals and two assists from nine starts having played every single minute of the campaign so far, also skippering the side five times.
Reportedly linked with a transfer to Manchester City this summer, Cyprien is someone to keep an eye on in near future windows should Nice fail to regain a position in Europe this term.
PSG game changers
To name two, Neymar and Angel Di Maria have enjoyed great starts to the season. The latter stepping up in the former’s absence as one of the more experienced players in the team. The Argentine has been involved in almost a quarter of The Parisians’ goals so far and particularly in grabbing a first half brace in battering his previous employers, Real Madrid, 3-0 in mid-September.
Neymar is Neymar, a world class talent who may well be playing his final run of games in Ligue 1 before returning to Barcelona in January, though having said that he could be absent in this fixture after coming off after 12 minutes as a precaution for Brazilagainst Nigeria on Sunday.
PSG may suffer a hangover from the international break, not possessing a huge squad to rotate meaning Nice could be a little fresher. The league leaders have kept four clean sheets in their last five though and so should be able to get a result on Friday evening.
Nice – PSG Betting Tip
Under 3.5 goals with Unibet at odds of 3/5.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
Two late strikes from Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi ruled out this bet, following Wylan Cyprien's red card, with Thomas Tuchel's men running out 4-1 winners.