AS Saint-Étienne host Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in Ligue 1 with Claude Puel’s men on an improbable two-game winning streak. Mauricio Pochettino’s side have won three consecutive matches in Le Championnat and are unbeaten in five outings but lost in midweek to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
With all eyes on the Argentine after recent links with Manchester United before Ralf Rangnick was selected to fill the managerial vacancy on an interim basis, this encounter could be trickier than it looks on paper.
Here is how you can watch the match and what to know:
Viewing information
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 28 | Time: 7:00 a.m. ET
- Location: Stade Geoffroy Guichard — Saint-Etienne, France
- TV: beIN Sports
- Live stream: fuboTV (try for free)
- Odds: ASSE+800; Draw +450; PSG -300 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Team news
ASSE: Romain Hamouma, Gabriel Silva, Yvan Neyou, Saidou Sow and Harold Moukoudi are all out. Arnaud Nordin is a doubt while Denis Bouanga is one of several players recovering from recent illness.
PSG: Marco Verratti, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ander Herrera and Mauro Icardi have all been ruled out through injury. Idrissa Gueye is also a doubt after being substituted during the City clash. Xavi Simons and Edouard Michut are training with PSG’s seniors and could potentially be called up by Pochettino.
Storylines
ASSE: This sleeping giant of French soccer is suffering on the pitch at present and was rooted to the foot of the Ligue 1 table until recent wins over Clermont Foot 63 and ESTAC Troyes.
Puel is overseeing a young squad which is dealing with multiple injuries on a shoestring budget to a backdrop of malcontent as Les Verts’ co-owners try to sell the club in a process which has dragged on.
Ex-Sevilla and Stade Rennais man Joris Gnagnon is expected to sign for Saint-Étienne shortly as a boost ahead of January when AFCON commitments will deplete the squad.
However, it will take more than that to restore Sainté to former glories as they remain the only club to have won the league more times than visitors PSG and other domestic rivals.
PSG: The capital outfit and Pochettino are not happy at present with sporting director Leonardo obliged to speak publicly on the issue to declare that Les Parisiens have no intention of letting their head coach go midseason after seeing ex-boss Thomas Tuchel win the Champions League with Chelsea.
On top of several injury absences, questions linger regarding PSG’s playing style and clear lack of identity which was once again shown up by City in midweek.
Sergio Ramos could finally make his competitive debut at Le Chaudron but Verratti’s unavailability means that the midfield will likely remain workmanlike unless Pochettino can spark some new life into it on the pitch where he led PSG for the first time earlier this year.
Prediction
PSG will likely win this one given that their injury issues are not nearly as limiting as Saint-Étienne’s. However, given the recent form of Puel’s side as they fight for Ligue 1 survival, Pochettino’s men should not expect an easy ride and will need Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to be up for the fight. Pick: ASSE 1-3 PSG.
