The Coupe de France’s all-time winningest team, Paris Saint-Germain, will host Nice on Monday in the round of 16 of the cup competition.
Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino will go into the game with a slightly depleted squad as several players will be away on international duty.
✨⚽️ pic.twitter.com/g3r8vYHTWH— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 27, 2022
✨⚽️ pic.twitter.com/g3r8vYHTWH
Christophe Galtier will hope to take advantage of Pochettino’s missing stars on Monday night. Nice picked up a nil-nil league draw earlier this season against Paris Saint-Germain. Galtier is aiming to mastermind a win over the Parisians to send Nice into the quarterfinals of the cup.
Nice are in excellent form going into Monday’s round of 16 clash in Paris. Their last seven games in all competitions ended without a defeat. The Eagles reached the round of 16 with a 1-0 away win against Cholet and a bye in the round of 32.
Paris Saint-Germain qualified for the round of 16 with a 3-0 win over Entente Feignies Aulnoye FC. The Parisians then defeated Vannes 4-0. Like Nice, Paris Saint-Germain are in excellent form ahead of the game on Monday night.
Pochettino has led Paris Saint-Germain to 11 straight matches in all competitions without a defeat. Paris Saint-Germain are on a two-game winning streak, while Nice are on a three-match winning run.
Monday’s game will be a clash between two sides with aspirations to dominate French football for the coming years. With Nice’s money, they very well could be Paris Saint-Germain's main title and cup rival for years to come.
Paris Saint-Germain will be depleted of stars due to injuries and international duty. Achraf Hakimi, Idrissa Gueye, and Abdou Diallo will miss out due to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma has a calf injury and is ruled out until February. Georginio Wijnaldum has an ankle issue and is ruled out. Meanwhile, it appears Neymar will remain sidelined due to an ankle injury.
Lionel Messi was left out of Argentina’s national squad for this month’s qualifiers. Messi could play on Monday versus Nice.
Galtier has just one player on the absentee list as it stands. Pablo Rosario will miss out due to a suspension.
Nice may have claimed a nil-nil league draw earlier this season with Paris Saint-Germain. But the Parisians dominate the Coupe de France. This will be the Parisians’ most difficult match in the tournament this season, but they should come through with a win at full-time.
It should be a tight fixture with Paris Saint-Germain winning at full-time and under 2.5 goals. Paris Saint-Germain should keep a second straight clean sheet versus the Eagles.