Paris Saint-Germain can finish off the Ligue 1 season with a third straight victory on Friday night against Stade de Reims.
The French champions going into the weekend having defeated Angers and Dijon by a combined score of 6-1. Manager Thomas Tuchel could oversee his final PSG game on Friday night when his side visit Reims.
Tuchel failed to get PSG past the last 16 in the Champions League. In addition, the Parisians were unable to win either French domestic cup competition.
Adding fuel to the fire of departure speculation is Kylian Mbappe’s unhappiness with the manager.
Mbappe has alleged Tuchel prevented the French superstar from winning the Golden Shoe for Europe’s top scorer this season. Mbappe hinted at a transfer away from Paris during the week at an awards ceremony
Despite a myriad of off the pitch issues, PSG will be confident of picking up all three points against Reims.
Stade Reims sit ninth in the Ligue One table and will finish their return season to the top flight comfortably in the middle of the pack. Reims have exceeded expectations securing 52 points.
Twenty-eight of those points have come on Reims’ home ground. They have lost back to back home matches, however, as they were outscored 5-0.
PSG defeated Reims in their previous encounter this term. The Parisians ran out 4-1 winners at the Parc des Prince thanks to two goals from Edinson Cavani and a goal apiece from Neymar and Thomas Meunier.
Reims actually took a shock 2nd minute lead against PSG thanks to Xavier Chavalerin. The newly promoted club couldn’t hang on to the early lead, however.
Paris St. Germain and Reims have met nine times in Ligue 1 dating back to 2012. PSG have posted a 6W-2D-1L record during that span of games. Five of the nine matches ended with both teams scoring, while six featured over 2.5 goals scored.
Mbappe will be one to watch on Friday night for PSG. The Frenchman has scored 32 goals this term in Ligue One. He is on pace to win the league’s Golden Boot award thanks to his prowess in front of goal.
Neymar will miss the fixture due to suspension. The Brazilian, whose importance to PSG has been questioned this season, was suspended for the final three games after slapping a fan following the team’s French Cup loss to Rennes.
Reims have shown themselves to be a difficult team to beat this season but PSG are no ordinary Ligue 1 side. Mbappe will power his team to victory on Friday night with over 2.5 goal scored. Expect Reims to get a goal but PSG to claim victory.