Paris Saint-Germain lead the Ligue 1 standings after 14 games and go into matchday No 15 seeking a fifth straight win in the French top flight.
The Parisians will go into the FIFA World Cup break in first place regardless of Sunday’s result at the Parc des Princes versus Auxerre. Manager Christophe Galtier will expect a win to end this part of the season.
⚽ 15 minutes of training ahead of Paris Saint-Germain - AJ Auxerre 🔴🔵 https://t.co/2GExDWx2ep— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 11, 2022
⚽ 15 minutes of training ahead of Paris Saint-Germain - AJ Auxerre 🔴🔵 https://t.co/2GExDWx2ep
Auxerre are 15th in the league ahead of the weekend. The newly-promoted side is just two points above the bottom four in Ligue 1.
PSG and Auxerre have not played since 2015, so there are no trends to look at ahead of the weekend fixture. However, Paris were unbeaten in their last three league matches versus Auxerre in all competitions.
Paris Saint-Germain are joint-leaders in the Ligue 1 form table with 16 points from the last six games. The Parisians scored 12 goals and conceded five times across the last six fixtures in the division.
Galtier’s team is unbeaten at the Parc des Princes this season with five wins and a draw in six fixtures. No team has scored more goals than PSG in Ligue 1 this term. Galtier may be influenced to rest key players for the match, however.
With the World Cup just days away, the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar could sit out. All three players have starred for PSG this season. Neymar and Mbappe are tied for the Ligue 1 lead in goals scored with 11.
Auxerre took six points from the last 18 points on offer in the league. Just one of their last six fixtures ended in a win.
The Blues struggled for goals with just six scored in the last six games. Seven goals were conceded by Auxerre during that period.
Manager Christophe Pelissier could be without three players for the game. Midfielders Kays Ruiz-Atil, Brayanna Pereira, and Youssuf M’Changama are doubts to make the squad. Their absences could leave a hole in Pellissier’s midfield.
Messi is a doubt with an Achilles tendon issue. He is likely to sit out with the World Cup coming up. Midfielder Fabian Ruiz is likely to miss with a muscle strain, and goalkeeper Keylor Navas has a back problem that could keep him on the sidelines.
Defender Presnel Kimpembe could miss the game following an Achilles injury. Galtier could be forced to make several changes.
Despite likely changing the team around, Galtier’s PSG should win at full-time. The match could finish 2-1 at the Parc des Princes with Mbappe and Neymar getting on the scoresheet if they play.