Paris Saint-Germain host OGC Nice in the French capital in the quarter-finals in this season’s Coupe de France on Wednesday night, with the winner of this clash will face Stade Rennais for a place in the final.
PSG were held to a third consecutive share of spoils in the league over the weekend, producing an underwhelming performance in the 2-2 draw at home against Reims. That followed a recent share of spoils with AS Monaco and a 1-1 draw with Rennes, although their gap to second-placed Brest remain ten points, enabling manager Luis Enrique to rotate his side and focus on the Coupe and Champions League pursuits.
Having progressed through the Last 16 on the continent, PSG will look to make it through to the Coupe de France semi-finals here. On the other hand, the Eaglets have gone five games without a win and have endured frustrating defeats to strugglers Lyon, Montpellier, and Toulouse, as well as a stalemate with bottom-placed Clermont.
This poor form does not bode well for the chances against the powerhouses of French football. Nice were the second-best side in the division around New Year, even though PSG had pulled clear, but form in 2024 has been extremely disappointing and costly. The two teams met earlier this season in Ligue 1 in September, with the visitors recording a 3-2 away win.
Team News & Tactics
Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique was without the services of skipper and key defender Marquinhos against Reims on Sunday, after the Brazilian picked up an Achilles tendon injury in training. He is unlikely to be risked in this match.
Forward Marco Asensio is set to miss a third straight game after he was forced off in the first half of the recent goalless draw against AS Monaco due to a hamstring issue. The former Real Madrid man has joined an injury list that features Layvin Kurzawa (back), Milan Skriniar (ankle), Sergio Rico (head), and Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles).
After Mbappe was left on the bench at the weekend, he is expected to return to the starting XI here, given the significance of this tie, and will be looking to add to his 34-goal league tally for the season when he lines up against Nice. Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola will provide support from either wing.
Enrique also switched goalkeepers for the draw with Reims. But Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to reclaim his starting spot over Keylor Navas. Apart from that, there is nothing that would disrupt Enrique’s current starting eleven.
Lucas Beraldo and Lucas Hernandez will again play as a central defensive pairing, while Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes will man the defensive flanks. Vitinha could sit at the base of their midfield, with Warren Zaire-Emery and Fabian Ruiz on either side of the 4-3-3.
