In Paris Saint-Germain’s last 22 competitive matches, they have only lost twice–once to FC Barcelona and the other to EA Guingamp.
The 2-1 win for Antoine Kombouaré’s men punctuated a frustrating December for the reigning French champions and led many to speculate whether or not Unai Emery would lose his job. Five months later, Emery is under perhaps more pressure to win with AS Monaco moving six points clear of PSG at the top of the table following Saturday’s result against Angers SCO.
The Coupe de la Ligue win last Saturday against Monaco should bolster the squad heading into a must-win situation at the Parc des Princes but Guingamp will be a difficult side to put away. Like Paris, Guingamp have advanced to the semi-finals of the Coupe de France and they have won three of their last four matches.
It’ll be difficult. Guingamp have a good team. They’re eighth in Ligue 1 and can still hope to qualify for the Europa League. They’ll give their all.–Layvin Kurzawa, PSG.fr
Emery announced during his press conference that Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Thiago Motta, and Christopher Nkunku will all miss Sunday’s match. The most pressing concern is obviously the absence of the starting center-back duo. This will likely force Emery to go with a pairing of Presnel Kimpembe and Serge Aurier with Thomas Meunier slotting in at right-back. Not an ideal defense by any stretch of the imagination and with Aurier’s affinity for joining the attack, it could prove disastrous if the Ivorian isn’t disciplined.
Starting XI Prediction
(4-3-3) Trapp; Kurzawa, Kimpembe, Aurier, Meunier; Matuidi, Verratti, Rabiot; Draxler, Cavani, Di Maria
Angel Di Maria has been in impressive form since the arrival of Julian Draxler in January and I expect that to continue at home against Guingamp. PSG will not want to lose twice to the same team in one season and I expect a high-scoring affair with all three attackers getting on the score sheet.
Score Prediction
PSG 3-1 Guingamp
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