The 2022 Trophée des Champions goes down on Sunday, with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain facing off against Coupe de France holders Nantes.
For the second year running, the Trophée des Champions will take place at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel.
📸 Discover the best photos of the Parisians' training session. The first with the group for @hekitike9 and @NordiMukiele! 🆕🔴🔵https://t.co/Nepcfiu8pR— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) July 27, 2022
📸 Discover the best photos of the Parisians' training session. The first with the group for @hekitike9 and @NordiMukiele! 🆕🔴🔵https://t.co/Nepcfiu8pR
PSG are competing in their tenth successive Trophée des Champions. As for Nantes, this is their first appearances in the iconic fixture since 2001.
The Parisians booked their place in the Trophée des Champions by winning the 2021/22 Ligue 1 title – their eighth title in ten years.
PSG lost just four of their 38 league games last season, picking up 26 wins and eight draws. They also scored a whopping 90 goals while conceding just 36.
Since then, the Ligue 1 champions have claimed four pre-season friendly victories – beating Quevilly Rouen (2-0), Kawasaki Frontale (2-1), Urawa Reds (3-0) and Gamba Osaka (6-2).
It is worth noting that PSG are the most successful club in the history of the Trophée des Champions, securing the silverware ten times over the years.
On the flip side, Nantes finished ninth in Ligue 1 last term – 31 points behind PSG – after recorded 15 wins, ten draws and 13 losses.
However, they punched their ticket to the Trophée des Champions via the Coupe de France – beating Nice 1-0 in last season’s final.
The Canaries have already claimed a couple of pre-season friendly wins, dispatching Caen (2-0) and Lorient (2-0) in recent weeks.
Having reached seven Trophée des Champions over the years, Nantes will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds this time around.
Head-to-head: Nantes have won two of their last three meetings with PSG, most recently claiming a 3-1 victory back in February.
When you look at the bigger picture, however, PSG have won 21 of their previous 24 matches against Nantes in all competitions.
Team news: PSG look set to start the season without the injured trio of Timothee Pembele, Marco Verratti and Julian Draxler.
Nantes have one injury concern ahead of the new campaign, with left-back Charles Traore sidelined due to a cruciate ligament rupture.
Although Nantes are expected to give PSG a run for their money, the Ligue 1 champions have more than enough firepower to get the job done on Sunday.
For that reason, Forebet predicts that PSG will secure the Trophée des Champions – keeping a clean sheet en route to victory.