Even though the Parc des Princes’ floodlights were turned off for the World Cup, the PSG theme was still very much present in Qatar as Kylian Mbappe of France and Lionel Messi of Argentina squared off in one of the greatest World Cup finals and football games ever played.
The player wearing the Albiceleste jersey succeeded in crossing off every item on his football resume, but PSG’s World Cup team’s international ties will soon come to an end as they head back to Camp des Loges in the hopes of successfully defending their Ligue 1 championship.
PSG maintained their unassailable lead over Lens with a 5-0 thrashing of Auxerre just before the World Cup break. Galtier’s team is still unbeaten this year and has collected 41 points out of the 45 available in Ligue 1.
Les Parisiens won both of their winter friendlies, defeating Quevilly Rouen 3-1 after defeating Paris FC 2-1. They are currently in a fierce rivalry with Napoli to remain the only unbeaten team in Europe’s top five leagues.
Since losing 1-0 to Lille in April 2021, the defending French champions have gone 30 games without losing in Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes.
And not many will be placing bets on a relegation-threatened Strasbourg team upsetting the apple cart!
Julien Stephan’s Strasbourg team came oh-so-close to forcing their way into continental contention last season, and his goal was to attempt to replicate his historic European feats with Rennes. However, this season, they have been dealt a harsh reality check.
Strasbourg are living dangerously indeed, having only one win to their name from all of their Ligue 1 games thus far this season, a 3-2 victory over Angers, the only team below them in the rankings, and entering the World Cup break without a win in five competitive games.
Les Coureurs can be proud of holding Marseille and Lorient, this season’s surprise package, to draws in that run, but they are still two points outside of the safety of 16th place, and on December 13, their only winter friendly ended in a 1-0 loss to Feyenoord.
One of the few things Strasbourg’s devoted supporters can look forward to before travelling to Paris is their propensity for scoring on the road. Stephan’s team has scored a respectable nine goals in their last five away games, despite giving up 11 goals at the other end of the field.
An end to their six-year run in the top flight could befall the visitors unless results pick up in the New Year, and the hosts have gone unbeaten in their last 10 clashes with Strasbourg in all tournaments since a surprise 2-1 defeat in the 2017-18 campaign.
1×2 Betting Odds
The current crop of Strasbourg players is familiar with a five-at-the-back system and could use it here to contain the PSG attack, which should still be rampaging even without Messi pulling the strings.
Prior to the break, Stephan’s team was able to compete in a few tight matches, but PSG continues to dominate most opponents and should easily win on Wednesday night!
And the betting market agrees!
PSG playing at home are the always the favourites to win, and it is no different this game! Their odds of winning stands @ 1.24.
PSG away is the toughest game for anyone in Ligue one, and it is certainly the case for Strasbourg who have the odds of winning @ 14.83.
The odds of a stalemate, and points being shared stands @ 7.60.
Total goals over/under
The odds that the total number of goals score will be over 2.5, stands @ 1.40.
While the odds that the total number of goals will be under 2.5, stands @ 3.20.
So the market expects at least 3 goals in this one, with PSG coming out on top!
