PSG hosts Nantes with sights set on the Champions League
Havana, November 20 (RHC)-- The leader and favorite PSG will receive Nantes in the continuation of the 14th round of French soccer, but their eyes will be on Wednesday's important Champions League duel against Manchester City.
The Parisians lead Ligue 1 with 34 points, 10 more than second-placed Lens, and their opponents are eleventh with 18, although last March Los Canarios shocked the capital outfit 2-1 at the Parc des Princes, and so the match has some air of revenge about it.
Of course, the red-and-blue team's manager, Mauricio Pochettino, will never underestimate an opponent, but next week's tough challenge at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, where the winner would virtually guarantee the top spot in Group A and a ticket to the round of 16 of the Champions League, must be on his mind.
Perhaps that explains the absence from PSG's squad of Brazilian captain and all-rounder Marquinhos and could leave on the bench his star compatriot Neymar, who trained without problems with the club, after missing the South American derby against Argentina due to injury in the qualifiers for the Qatar-2022 World Cup.
In the other Saturday game on Matchday 14, fifth-placed Rennes (22 points) will host Montpellier (19) at Roazhon Park.
The duel between defending Ligue 1 champions Lille and last season's third-placed Monaco ended in a 2-2 draw, so at the end of tomorrow's matchday, the powerful teams should remain in the second half of the table, a surprise.