Ramos and PSG look to finish well against Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg Alsace – Paris Saint-Germain
– kick off: 19:00 GMT
PSG regained the French league title from LOSC last Saturday, with Lionel Messi scoring a marvelous goal in a 1-1 draw with RC Lens, who put up 13 points between the capital club and the challengers closest to Olympique de Marseille with only 12 to play.
A lingering calf injury has halted Ramos’ progress since his summer arrival from Real Madrid, but the Spanish appearance record holder has now started PSG’s last two games with Mauricio Pochettino moving to three, scoring in the 3-0 win last Wednesday at Angers SCO.
Goals for the season
With Paris eliminated from both the UEFA Champions League and the Coupe de France in the round of 16 this season, the pressure is mounting on Pochettino, while Messi and Ramos have also drawn criticism.
Watch: Highlights of PSG’s 1-1 draw against Lens
Messi’s strike against Lens means he has scored a goal every 105 minutes in the league since his summer move from Barcelona (four goals and 13 assists), while he has added five in seven Champions League appearances . Ramos plans to catch up with his former Clasico rival.
“I have spent too few hours on the pitch this season in a PSG shirt,” he told PSG’s official website. “I’m at the peak of my career and I can’t wait to show my new team, Paris Saint-Germain, how much football I have in me.
“My big goal celebration against Angers was a reflection of the sacrifice I had to make.”
defensive strength
Ramos is expected to start again at the heart of a three-man defense at the Stade de la Meinau, with Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe for company. There could be a rotation elsewhere, however, with Pochettino’s forced hand in the case of suspended midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
Mauro Icardi (thigh), Leandro Paredes (groin), Julian Draxler (knee) remain out with injury, although Abdou Diallo has made a tentative return to training after a knee injury.
With PSG favored on Friday, Strasbourg are unlikely to fold for the champions. Julien Stephan’s side are just one point behind OGC Nice who sit fifth and last in Europe, and last Sunday’s 1-0 loss to LOSC was their first loss in 12 games.
Watch: Highlights of Strasbourg’s 1-0 loss to Lille
Strasbourg may not have beaten PSG since December 2017 when Stéphane Bahoken – now of Angers SCO – struck the winner in a 2-1 win at Stade de la Meinau, but Stephan is keen to take that monkey out of his back, with the plan to attack on Friday.
“We won’t change our approach,” Pochettino’s counterpart said. “I want uninhibited and ambitious players who press the opponent. I want my time to approach this game the same way they have the others. We focus on ourselves and what we are capable of doing.
“Playing Our Own Game”
“We had no complexes when we were at Rennes, Nice, Lyon or Monaco. We always push our players, but we have to focus on ourselves and play our own game.”
Stephan will however have to make some changes. Captain Dimitri Liénard is injured in the thigh while midfielder Jean-Eudès Aholou suffers from a concussion. Frédéric Guilbert should line up at right-back while Anthony Caci will change flank.
Possible teams
PSG: Donnarumma; Marquinhos, Ramos, Kimpembe; Hakimi, Pereira, Veratti, Mendes; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar
Strasbourg: salts; Guilbert, Perrin, Nyamsi, Djiku, Caci; Thomasson, Sossoko, Bellegarde; Ajorque, Gameiro