Preview: PSG vs. Montpellier - prediction, team news

Club football returns to the Parc des Princes after its Olympic hosting duties when Paris Saint-Germain welcome Montpellier HSC to the French capital on Friday night.

The reigning Ligue 1 champions began their title defence with a late win over Le Havre last weekend and will be expected to make it two from two here.

Match preview

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Life after Kylian Mbappe started in fine fashion for PSG, as they saw off last season's strugglers Le Havre 4-1 away from home in their season opener.

Luis Enrique's men left it late though, as it took them until 85 minutes to retake the lead when Ousmane Dembele struck, before Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo Muani added some gloss to the scoreline in quick succession.

PSG topped the Ligue 1 standings for less than 24 hours though, as Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille overtook the champions with a 5-1 win at Brest the following day.

The hosts will be heavy favourites to come out on top in this encounter, but PSG were very underwhelming at home last season, winning just nine of their 17 league fixtures at the Parc des Princes.

Montpellier were one of the sides they managed to beat here though in a comfortable 3-0 success, as the Parisiens also recorded a thumping 6-2 win on the road against their upcoming opponents.

While the absence of Mbappe was not felt on the pitch last weekend, off-field issues surrounding their former captain could still be a problem though, as it was revealed earlier this week that the club still owe the player up to €55m (£47m) in unpaid wages.

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Such obscene financial figures are of no concern to visitors Montpellier, but they may have to spend in the remaining days of the transfer window if they want to improve on last season's 12th-placed finish.

Michel Der Zakarian steered the club away from relegation to finish 12 points clear of trouble, but the gap to the European places was 10 points for the 2011-12 champions.

An underwhelming start which saw Montpellier draw 1-1 with Strasbourg thanks to a Teji Savanier penalty means European qualification may not be the immediate aim for the club this season.

Facing a PSG side against whom they have woeful record will most probably do little to raise any eyebrows either, as they have lost 11 in a row against the dominant force in French football, conceding 40 goals in the process.

Team News

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PSG are set to be without Goncalo Ramos after the Portuguese forward was forced off after just 20 minutes with an ankle injury in the win over Le Havre.

Ramos will join Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez on the sidelines, while it is still unclear whether Fabian Ruiz is fit to return after his Euro 2024 exploits with Spain.

Yoram Zague and Ibrahim Mbaye started down PSG's left last Friday with a combined age of just 34, but Nuno Mendes's return from suspension should see him come into the starting XI.

Montpellier have a number of defenders set to miss out here, with Theo Sainte-Luce, Christopher Jullien, Lucas Mincarelli and Issiaga Sylla all currently nursing injuries.

Khalil Fayad is also missing with a thigh injury, but after sitting out last weekend with suspension, Wahbi Khazri should return here.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pacho, Lucas Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, Lee Kang-in; Marco Asensio, Kolo Muani, Barcola

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Tchato, Omeragic, Sagnan, Sacko; Chotard, Ferri, Savanier; Nordin, Khazri, Al-Tamari

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Montpellier HSC

Despite only just getting over the line last weekend, PSG should have little difficulty in seeing off a side with such a poor recent record against them.

Montpellier have not won a league game in Paris since the final day of the 2009-10 season, when they finished 22 points above PSG in what was a very different era for the club from the capital, and that run is likely to continue here.


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