PSG v Nice: Line-ups, stats and preview

Nice won for the first time in six games last Sunday

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PSG v Nice match preview

Four days before the most important match of their campaign so far, Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain will aim to protect their unbeaten league record against opponents who handed them their first defeat at the Parc des Princes last season.

Terem Moffi put Nice 1-0 and 3-1 ahead at PSG in September 2023, with Gaetan Laborde also scoring for the visitors and Kylian Mbappe twice replying for Paris.

“It’s a special scenario,” PSG manager Luis Enrique said, discussing his team’s prospects of becoming the first ever Ligue 1 side to go a season unbeaten.

“This is the first time this has happened to us, as a staff, to be champions by such a large margin. It’s a good thing there are still records to break; it motivates us.”

While Luis Enrique is predictably keen to emphasise how professionally PSG are approaching their task, the 2014/15 Champions League winner with Barcelona acknowledged that he would swap defeat to Nice for victory over Arsenal in their European semi-final, which starts with the first leg in London on Tuesday (20:00 BST).

When he was asked whether PSG’s priorities could boost his side’s chances, Nice manager Franck Haise admitted he was “not sure”.

“When you look at them, it’s [never] the right time for anyone,” added Haise, via L’Equipe, also taking encouragement from Nice’s 1-1 home draw in the fixture on October 6. “I looked at their matches against the top 10. In 16 matches, they have 15 wins and one draw, against us.

“You start by dreaming, like all the players and coaches who face PSG. It’s important to dream in life. Then you face reality.

“You have to be at your best. We know very well that even if we’re at 100% of our ability, when we play PSG, it’s not necessarily enough.”

PSG drew 1-1 at Nantes in their last outing, on April 22, and won each of their previous two domestic games by a goal. “I would have preferred them to win their last two league matches by a wide margin,” said Haise. “We know we’re going to have to run a lot without the ball – even more than usual.

“Everything [PSG do] is better than at the start of the season – their teamwork, playmaking, substitutions, clearances, pressing and counter-pressing.”

Paris Saint-Germain v Nice team news

Ecuador centre-back Willian Pacho returned from illness for PSG as a second-half substitute against Nantes.

Luis Enrique rotated his side for the league game preceding the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Aston Villa, and the likes of top scorer Ousmane Dembele could be rested again.

Midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, who joined Nice from Tottenham last July, has missed their last seven matches with a pelvic injury.

Moses Bombito missed the 2-1 home win over Angers on Sunday because of a fractured wrist the Canada centre-back sustained in the 2-2 draw at Strasbourg eight days earlier.

Haise suggested he did not expect the injury to sideline Bombito for long.

Paris St-Germain v Nice expected line-ups

PSG starting XI: Safonov, Zaire-Emery, Beraldo, Kimpembe, Hernandez, Doue, Mayulu, Fabian Ruiz, Barcola, Ramos, Lee

Nice starting XI: Bulka, Abdelmonem, Ndayishimiye, Bard, Clauss, Boudaoui, Rosario, Abdi, Bouanani, Boga, Laborde

How to watch PSG v Nice: Live stream, TV channel

Kick-off on Friday is at 19:45 BST, with live coverage in the UK on Ligue 1 Pass.

The platform costs £9.99 a month or £19.99 for a season pass with a promotional code running at the time of publication.

Paris Saint-Germain v Nice stats

  • In 12 of the last 14 Paris Saint-Germain matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • Paris Saint-Germain have won 8 of the last 10 matches in the Ligue 1 and the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • Paris Saint-Germain have won 8 of the last 10 matches in the Ligue 1 while scoring more than 1.5 goals
  • In 7 of the last 9 Paris Saint-Germain matches the sum of goals was over 3.5
  • Paris Saint-Germain have won 7 of the last 9 matches and the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • In 8 of the last 9 Nice away matches in the Ligue 1, the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • In the last 5 Nice away matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • In the last 4 Nice matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • In the last 4 Nice matches in the Ligue 1, the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • In 5 of the last 6 Nice matches the sum of goals was under 3.5

PSG v Nice prediction

By PSG’s almost all-conquering standards, Nice have been a bogey team over the last two seasons and the underdogs have far more to play for domestically, starting the game a point behind fourth-placed Lille.

Les Aiglons’ away record of two wins and four defeats from their last eight games does not suggest Ligue 1’s invincibles are about to be shocked, but Nice can repeat that 1-1 draw against hosts who are unlikely to be at full strength.

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