Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Nice

Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Coupe de France clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Nice, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Paris Saint-Germain welcome Nice to the French capital in the last quarter-final encounter in this season’s Coupe de France on Wednesday.

Lyon and Valenciennes are already into the semi-finals, while the winner of this clash will face Rennes for a place in the final.

Match preview
© Reuters

PSG were held to a third straight league draw at the weekend, when an underwhelming performance saw them held 2-2 at home with Reims.

That came after a recent stalemate with Monaco and a 1-1 draw with Rennes, but the gap is still 10 points to second-placed Brest, meaning manager Luis Enrique may be tempted now to focus predominantly on the Coupe and the Champions League.

The never-ending saga involving Kylian Mbappe made more headlines as he was benched for the clash with Reims on Sunday just days after he had blown Real Sociedad away in San Sebastian in the Champions League.

It was in that competition where PSG suffered their last defeat though, away at San Siro against AC Milan 22 games ago, as despite the recent blip in the league, they have still maintained that fine record.

After progressing through the last 16 on the continent, this is the first time in three seasons PSG have made it into the quarter-finals of the Coupe, after back-to-back last-16 exits.

That was hugely surprising considering the Parisiens had reached seven straight finals between 2015 and 2021, winning six of them.

Getting through two possibly challenging tests against Nice, and then Rennes, would set PSG up with a fantastic chance of reclaiming the trophy, given that struggling Lyon or second-tier basement boys Valenciennes would be waiting in the final.

Nice have already won 3-2 here at the Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 this season, but their utter capitulation of late continued at the weekend.

Yet another defeat, this time to relegation candidates Montpellier, means Francesco Farioli’s side have taken just two points from six games and now look unlikely to threaten the Champions League places.

Despite being PSG’s closest challengers in second for most of the season, Nice now find themselves sixth, as their only win since January came in the last round of this competition.

The visitors will look to take inspiration from their performance here in the Coupe back in 2022, when they beat PSG on penalties in the last 16 on their way to being finalists that year, before losing to Nantes.

Nice have not won the Coupe since 1997, with 2022 being their only final sinc, as they chase a fourth title in their history this season, and winning here would give them a fantastic opportunity.

Paris Saint-Germain Coupe de France form:

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

Nice Coupe de France form:

Nice form (all competitions):

After Mbappe was left on the bench at the weekend, he is set to come back into the side here given the importance of this tie, and he will look to add to his tally of six goals in three Coupe de France matches this season.

Enrique also swapped his goalkeeper for the draw with Reims, but Gianluigi Donnarumma is also likely to retake his place in the starting XI over Keylor Navas.

Captain Marquinhos returned to the bench against Real Sociedad last midweek but missed out against Reims, possibly being saved for bigger encounters to come.

Elsewhere, Marco Asensio, Milan Skriniar and Presnel Kimpembe all remain out but could be in line to return after the international break.

Nice will be without Sofiane Diop and Valentin Rosier due to injury here, but Morgan Sanson did return to the squad at the weekend, making a 20-minute cameo off the bench following a minor knee problem.

Farioli will also be able to welcome back Youssouf Ndayishimiye after the Burundi midfielder was suspended for the defeat to Montpellier HSC.

Terem Moffi scored two in the corresponding fixture in the league earlier this season, but Africa Cup of Nations duty has disrupted his rhythm, with the striker only recently returning to full fitness.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Lucas Beraldo, Hernandez, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola

Nice possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Rosario, Todibo, Dante; Lotomba, Boudaoui, Thuram, Bard; Laborde, Moffi, Boga

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Nice
With eyes on a historic treble, PSG will be keen to ensure safe passage into the semi-finals and should do so against out-of-form opponents.

Nice’s abysmal form since the start of February means they are up against it here, and a dominant PSG side should have too much for them.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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