PSG vs Reims

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 title defense continues at the Parc des Princes against a resurgent Reims side.

Following a phenomenal 16-game Ligue 1 start (W14, D2), the reigning champions PSG have let complacency tuck them into a false sense of security, leading to two uncharacteristic defeats in their last three league outings (W1). And what once seemed like a landslide lead at the summit now stands at only three points, forcing ‘Les Parisiens’ to take this contest seriously if they’re to build on an overwhelming 7-0 Coupe de France win over lower-league Pays de Cassel last time out. Christophe Galtier’s men have been a force to be reckoned with in Paris in recent years as they enter this round riding on a telling 31-match unbeaten league run at home (W27, D7). On top of that, they’ve been victorious in eight of their last nine home league meetings with Reims (L1).

On the other hand, visiting Reims have gone from strength to strength since club football’s resumption in December, racking up four wins and two draws in six matches across all competitions. Defensive resilience has been key to Reims’ impressive form in 2023, as they’ve kept a clean sheet in four consecutive games in the build-up to this trip. Moreover, ‘Les Rouges et Blancs’ haven’t lost any of their last 11 Ligue 1 fixtures (W4, D7), accounting for their longest unbeaten streak in the top flight since March 2019. But scoring could be a problem for the visitors, considering they’ve averaged only 0.6 goals per match on their last five league travels (W1, D4).