Preview: Reims vs Paris Saint-Germain – Prediction, team news, lineups

Rheims Welcome Paris Saint Germain at the Stade Auguste Delaune to create a surprise in the fifth round of Ligue 1.

While the Parisians are considered favorites to continue their 100 percent start to the 2024-25 season, recent encounters with this weekend's opponents have not gone entirely in their favor.

Game Preview

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Although Reims had a bad start to the new Ligue 1 season, Luka ElsnerThe men collected seven points in three games and climbed to sixth place in the early season table.

The 42-year-old joined the club from Le Havre in the summer after avoiding immediate relegation of the club, which he had led to the top division after a 14-year absence, and had a decent to good start with the red and whites.

A 0-2 home defeat in the first round was followed by an entertaining 2-2 draw against Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille and two 2-1 wins against Rennes and Nantes.

A key factor in Reims' continued form has undoubtedly been their goal-scoring ability, with each of them scoring two goals in their last three matches, although they had not kept a single clean sheet prior to Gameweek 5.

Elsner's side have conceded the first goal in all four of their Ligue 1 matches this season, a habit that could be detrimental to their chances of taking points from PSG for the fourth time in their last five meetings.

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While Luis Enrique Although the Spaniard beat this weekend's opponents in the 2023/24 season, he also dropped points against Reims in his first year, making it the third time the reigning top-flight champions have slipped up in the last four meetings between the clubs.

The current streak – one of four wins against Reims – followed a period of five consecutive PSG victories against Les Rouges et Blancs, during which the capital club scored 15 goals without conceding a goal in all competitions.

Since then, the Parisians have only managed two draws on home turf and one in Reims; however, their only triumph in this period came on Saturday in a Kylian Mbappe-inspired 3-0 victory.

With the Frenchman now at Real Madrid, Enrique's team will need to find other match-winners to decide games like Saturday's, eliminate any challengers in Ligue 1 and fulfil their Champions League ambitions.

The season was perfect: PSG had reached the maximum number of points after four games, scoring 16 goals and conceding three, before closing in on the sixth-placed team.

Nuno Mendes were fortunate to continue the French side's 100 percent start with a late winner against Girona in their Champions League match on Wednesday and the capital club will be aiming for another win to continue their flawless season.

Reims Ligue 1 form:

Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form:

Paris Saint-Germain form (All competitions):

Team News

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Reims had six goalscorers this season. Sergio Akieme, Yaya Fofana, Junya Ito, Oumar Diakite, Marshall Munetsi And Keito Nakamura all hit the net.

The hosts may have to do without the injured quartet of PSG loan players Gabriel Moscardo (groin), Akieme (jaw), Abdoul Kone (thigh) and Mohammed Daramy (Knee).

Marco Asensio had to leave the field in the first half of the French top club's Champions League match against Girona with a suspected thigh injury that could keep the Spaniard out of action this weekend. Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Lucas Hernandez (knee) and Goncalo Ramos (ankle) on the sideline.

Gianluigi Donnarumma (thigh) was absent on Wednesday due to an injury sustained against Brest last weekend and the goalkeeper's availability for Saturday is uncertain.

Despite the firing of blank cartridges in Europe, Bradley Barcola (four goals) and Ousmane Dembele (three) should play wide from the start, possibly on the flank Randal Kolo Muani above.

Possible starting eleven for Reims:
Diouf; Buta, Kipre, Agbadou, Sangui; Munetsi, Edoa, Teuma; Ito, Diakite, Nakamura

Possible starting eleven of Paris Saint-Germain:
Safanov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Barcola

We think: Reims 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain

PSG's victory over Girona on Wednesday was ultimately decided by a mistake from Paulo Gazzaniga, but PSG dominated the game thanks to numerous scoring opportunities.

We hope that the Parisians will rediscover their goalscoring qualities and claim maximum points for the fifth time in Ligue 1 and the sixth time in all competitions with a comfortable win at Reims.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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