Under-strength PSG to be held to a draw by Angers
Unsurprising runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain will take Ligue 1 surprise package Angers SCO at the Parc Des Princes on Friday night, bereft of many of their elite players because of the timing of the fixture. Meanwhile, the visitors sit in fourth after a fine start to 2021/2022, and will look to take any advantages offered. Read our preview here:
So happy and Gueye
Mauricio Pochettino is blessed with a very deep squad at the European giants, but even he will be hurting without Sergio Ramos, Layvin Kurzawa, Julian Draxler, Juan Bernat, and Ismael Gharbi (all injury doubts), whereas Leo Messi, Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes, Neymar, Marquinhos, and Keylor Navas are missing due to international commitments. Kylian Mbappe should still start up top, and will be joined by Rafinha and Mauro Icardi. Further back, Idrissa Gueye has been keeping Gini Wijnaldum out of the midfield with his surprising goalscoring form, and will be a crucial component in this encounter regardless of whether the former Liverpool dynamo lines up alongside him. He is excellent in the air as well as when blocking the ball, and defending set pieces will be key to preventing their adversaries from gaining a foothold in the match.
Bahoken on air
Though it feels like a while ago, SCO's comeback win over Metz means there's still a buzz around the club that at one point in the summer were relegated to Ligue 2 by the LFP over financial issues. Striker Stéphane Bahoken stepped off the bench to crash in the winner, and whilst Gérald Baticle's men will still be very much be underdogs, they do have more bows in their quiver than pundits suggested pre-season. The Cameroonian poacher should be restored to the lineup, and he will have wonderkid Mohammed-Ali Cho to provide the pace and width to test a less than watertight PSG backline that will also have an unfamiliar complexion about it.
Back to the grind
Baticle has not stuck with the same approach as his predecessor, Stéphane Moulin. Though more young faces are needed in the Angers squad over time, he has quietly revolutionised them from a tactical standpoint. Being on the front foot in the capital will be an onerous task, but they have the right mix to get a draw - Casumo have odds of 5.50 for a very valuable draw on the road.
