Les Parisiens face a tricky hurdle on Saturday in form of Sochaux and a mouth watering encounter is expected at Parc des Princes
Following a shaky start to the 2012/2013 Ligue 1 campaign, Les Parisiens have finally hit top gear and are currently third in the league with 12 points on the table.
Paris Saint-Germain
The cash-laden club from Paris are in great form at the moment and Les Lionceaux can be considered unlucky to be facing the capital club when they are in such fine shape.
PSG thrashed SC Bastia 4-0 in their previous Ligue 1 game, and the Parisiens are looking in good shape to rival the likes of Marseille and Lyon for the Championelle, despite trailing Les Phoceens by six points.
Coach, Carlo Ancelotti is happy with the way things are going at the moment and would not accept anything but all three points from the game against Sochaux.
"We're putting together a good run, a fourth win in a row after a tricky period. We have to keep working. These wins are good for the confidence and our place in the table," the Italian told reporters in a pre-match press conference.
While talking about Ligue 1 top-scorer, Ibrahimovic, the coach said that PSG are lucky to have a player like him in their ranks and he is an asset for the team.
"Ibrahimovic is an exceptional player. His goal ratio is amazing; he can score twice from two chances. But he's also very important for the others - Menez scored from Ibrahimovic's pass.”
FC Sochaux
Les Lionceaux have started the 2012/2013 Ligue 1 campaign in worst possible manner and coach, Eric Hely, would not fancy facing PSG at this moment.
However, Sochaux have the ability to defeat any team on their day and Paris Saint-Germain need to be at their best to avoid any humiliation in front of their home crowd.
Les Lionceaux coach knows that his side need to start winning soon if they want to achieve their targets this season. Despite their poor start to the campaign, Eric Hely is optimistic about his side’s chances this season and has backed his players to test
PSG to limits.
"We started in the worst possible fashion, but the players picked themselves up and I saw a lot of very positive signs.”
Expected Line-ups
Paris Saint-Germain
Sirigu, Jallet, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Maxwell-c25051, Verratti, Chantome, Sissoko, Pastore, Menez, Ibrahimovic.
FC Sochaux Montbeliard
Pouplin, Corchia, Peybernes, Kante, Roussillon,
Traore, Doubai, Boudebouz, Roudet, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Camara-c8277, Bakambu.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-c38029 – Paris Saint-Germain
The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sweden-c3015 international has been in phenomenal form for Les Parisiens this season and already has seven goals to his name.
The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 striker has taken Ligue 1 by storm, and his contribution will be vital once more as the Ile giants look to secure maximum points against Sochaux at Parc des Princes.
Ryad Boudebouz – FC Sochaux
Following the departure of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ryad-Boudebouz-c31970 has stepped up to the occasion to fill that void.
Les Lionceaux would look to the talented Algerian to inspire Sochaux to victory against the Ligue 1 heavy spenders.
Prediction
Paris Saint-Germain are in great form at the moment and Sochaux’s chances look slim against the Parisiens. With the kind of form PSG are enjoying at the moment, expect Carlo Ancelotti’s side to get all three points on Saturday, but not without toil.
Final Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Sochaux
Tags: