PSG and Reims will face off in a key Ligue 1 clash, with the two sides looking to keep their title hopes intact.
PSG have been in fine form in the league so far this season and are currently sitting in the first place. The Parisians have been in prolific form for the majority of this season, having won 15 of their 19 games so far. They have scored an astonishing 47 goals so far and can reach 50 in 90 minutes given their star-studded lineup.
Reims, on the other hand, have had a much less successful campaign thus far, with just one win in their last three league games. This season in Ligue 1, Reims’s form is average overall with five wins, ten draws, and four losses. This performance currently places Reims 11th out of 20 teams in the Ligue 1 table, winning 26% of matches.
It should be an exciting match between two teams in good form, with both sides looking to continue their winning streaks. PSG should have the advantage due to their superior attacking talent, but Reims will look to make it a difficult game. Below are some stats looking at the likelihood of the outcome of this match.
Comparison of the teams’ performances
The viz above shows the percentile rank of both teams’ stats compared to each other as well as to other teams in Ligue 1. It can be seen that PSG has better overall stats than Reims in most departments. Notably, the hosts have the upper hand in terms of shots, xG, final third entries, and xGA. Alternatively, there are a couple of departments where the visitors have superior stats, such as recoveries and pass per defensive action.
PSG maintains 59.9% possession and attempts 649.21 passes on average with an accuracy of 90.1%. They make 72.58 recoveries per 90 minutes. Whereas, Reims keeps the ball for 43.98% of the match on average, attempting 353.21 passes with an accuracy of 79%. Additionally, Reims makes 86.05 recoveries per match.
Both teams in front of the goal
Paris Saint-Germain are currently in first place in the 2022–23 French Ligue 1, with 47 points from 19 matches played. They have won 15 matches, drawn two, and lost two matches. They have scored 48 goals (38.94 xG) and conceded 14 goals. The top scorer for Paris Saint-Germain in the 2022–23 French Ligue 1 is Kylian Mbappe with 13 goals (9.67 xG), and he is a key player for the Parisians. The team takes 14.58 shots per 90 with an accuracy rate of 47.7%.
Reims are currently in 11th position in the 2022–23 French Ligue 1, with 25 points from 19 matches played. They have won five matches, drawn ten, and lost four. They have scored 21 goals (23.7xG). The top scorer for Reims in the 2022–23 French Ligue 1 is Folarin Balogun with 10 goals (6.78 xG). Their goal output is low in comparison to the number of shots taken; they have taken 218 shots in 19 matches, averaging 11.68 shots per 90 minutes. The above viz depicts the shot map for Reims and shows how they attempted most shots from the penalty area. The team has a shot accuracy of 36.5% per 90 and has rarely found the back of the net from distance.
Defensive doings
PSG’s defence has been strong this season, having conceded only 13 goals, of which they have let in only six on the road. The above viz shows the defensive territory of the team this season in Ligue 1. It indicates that PSG were involved in a lot of defensive actions in the defensive third. They have made 33.1 average interceptions, winning 49.3% of the aerial duels and 60.3% of the defensive duels contested per 90. Most of their defensive action comes in their defensive third and middle third. They have not given up any fouls in the box. They commit 10.47 fouls on average and concede 0.74 goals per 90 minutes.
The above viz shows Reims’ defensive territory from their current season in the French top tier. Reims have conceded a total of 23 goals (26.0 x GA). The team makes 86.5 recoveries per 90 minutes and 47.4 interventions, which is slightly better compared to their opponents this season. They haven’t given away any dangerous fouls, but they average 12.9 fouls per 90 minutes. They won 61.3% of defensive duels and 44.9% of aerial duels contested. They do not perform much defensive action in the final third, as can be observed.
Big expectations
In the French Ligue 1 season 2022/23, Folarin Balogun played 18 matches. He has 19 shots on target from a total of 42 and has scored ten goals (6.78 xG). Folarin Balogun averages 13 passes per game with a 68% completion rate and has one assist. From the above viz we can see that all of his goals have come from inside the box. Additionally, he has made most of his attempts from the left part of the final third, just outside the 6-yard box. He will be under pressure to help his team secure an unexpected victory.
Team news
PSG will be confident that Renato Sanches will be back for the game, but Marco Verratti was another notable absentee from the win over Angers after picking up a thigh injury and will need further assessment. Meanwhile, Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes continue their recoveries from Achilles and thigh issues, respectively.
Balogun will most likely return to the starting lineup after recovering from his injury. Jens Cajuste is pushing for a recall in midfield, having proven his fitness over the past two games, and he is competing with Alexis Flips for a spot in the starting lineup.
PSG will be heavy favourites to take the three points, with their attacking firepower likely to prove too much for Reims. Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have been on top form lately, and with the likes of Leo Messi also providing support, the visitors could be in for a long visit. Reims will be hoping they can catch PSG off guard and come away with a result, but it‘s going to take a monumental effort to keep the French champions at bay. This promises to be an exciting game, with PSG looking to keep up their title challenge and Reims fighting for recognition.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
