Paris Saint-Germain are in familiar territory after their midweek defeat to Bayern Munich, with a side too strong for their domestic rivals in France struggling in the Champions League. There may be a difference this time around: while PSG have often fallen short of their potential in Europe, they don't look nearly as good as the best teams on the continent this season. Luis Enrique's side offered little attacking threat in Tuesday's 1-0 defeat in Munich, with goalkeeper Matfei Safonov at fault for the goal and Ousmane Dembele sent off.
PSG have just four points and have suffered three defeats in five matches in the Champions League, meaning they are ranked 25th out of 36 teams.
That leaves them one place and two points outside the qualifying spots for February's knockout stage play-offs, and they will certainly need to win at least two of their three remaining matches to avoid elimination.
Such a vulnerable position means that Luis Enrique is of course in the line of fire, with doubts about his tactics: “The method without any effect,” was the headline from sports newspaper L'Equipe on Thursday.
In particular, his penchant for playing without a striker since the departure of Kylian Mbappe and the loss of Goncalo Ramos to injury.
Randal Kolo Muani, a big-money signing who was expected to step up after Mbappe's departure, has become a pariah.
Kolo Muani, a regular in France, has only started twice for PSG all season and did not come off the bench against Bayern.
Yet Paris only scored three goals in five Champions League matches, including one own goal.
“It is a privilege to be coach of PSG. The pressure I put on myself is greater than any external pressure,” said Luis Enrique in Munich.
“I'm not just here to kill time. My goal is to win titles and do it now, not in the future.”
PSG are on course to do that domestically as they are unbeaten in Ligue 1 and six points clear of nearest challengers Monaco before they host struggling Nantes this weekend.
At home they averaged three goals per game, while Bradley Barcola was their best marksman with ten goals. They have lost just one of their last 41 Ligue 1 matches.
France's other representatives in the Champions League – Monaco, Lille and Brest – are all doing well in Europe, but it is not a good prospect for Ligue 1 that PSG continues to cruise at home while toiling abroad.
The current season is perhaps PSG's weakest team since the first season of the Qatari takeover in 2011/12, with the possible exception of 2016/17.
The latter campaign followed the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and preceded the arrival at the Parc des Princes of Neymar and Mbappé.
Monaco guided PSG to the title that year and again seem the most likely threat to their hegemony this time.
Player to watch: Hamed Junior Traore
The 24-year-old Ivorian attacking midfielder is certainly the signing of the season in Ligue 1 so far.
Traore joined Bournemouth on loan from Auxerre after spending the second half of the season at Napoli. And he is the main reason why newly promoted Auxerre are in a lofty seventh place a third of the way through the season.
He has scored six goals in 10 Ligue 1 appearances, including a last-gasp winner against Angers last weekend.
One more against Toulouse on Sunday and he will equal his best ever score in a single league season of seven for Sassuolo in Italy in 2021/22.
Key statistics
7 – Brest have suffered as many defeats in Ligue 1 this season as they did in the entirety of last season.
300 – PSG captain Marquinhos could make his 300th Ligue 1 appearance this weekend.
3 – Marseille have conceded three goals in each of their last two home games. They have not done that in three consecutive home games at the highest level since 1962.
Match schedule (times GMT)
Friday
Reims against Lens (1945)
Saturday
Rennes v Saint-Etienne (1600), Brest v Strasbourg (1800), Paris Saint-Germain v Nantes (2000)
Sunday
Montpellier v Lille (1400), Lyon v Nice, Toulouse v Auxerre, Le Havre v Angers (all 1600), Marseille v Monaco (1945)
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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