The Ligue 1 2022/23 season resumes after Christmas with PSG playing Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes on matchday 16. PSG enjoys the top spot in the league, whereas Strasbourg are fighting for their fate.
A five-nil thrashing of Auxerre just before the World Cup break marked PSG’s seventh consecutive win in all competitions. Galtier’s side are still unbeaten this season, taking 41 points from the 45 on offer in Ligue 1. PSG leads after 15 games, with 41 points. They have a goal difference of 34, scoring 43 and conceding just nine so far.
Strasbourg has won just one of their Ligue 1 games so far this season. Currently, Strasbourg are living very dangerously indeed and have entered the World Cup break without a win in five competitive matches. They are in 19th place with only 11 points after having played 15 matches. Strasbourg have scored 17 goals and conceded 26.
Below, we will look at both teams’ stats from the current season and provide a match preview for PSG vs. Strasbourg.
The above viz shows the percentile rank of both teams compared with each other as well as with other teams in Ligue 1. PSG is clearly the winner in most of the departments here, and it can be observed that they have an overall better percentile rank than Strasbourg. An interesting observation here is that the crosses per 90 for both teams are at extremes. PSG is at the 4.7 percentile rank, whereas Strasbourg are at 90.4 crosses per 90. Both teams have the same percentile rank for entries in the opposition’s penalty area per 90.
PSG are a very efficient side when it comes to the attacking department. PSG have the joint-highest efficiency in positional attacks and ranks second in terms of counterattacking efficiency in Ligue 1. PSG will be looking to dominate possession in this match.
Strasbourg, on the other hand, lacks the necessary efficiency in both departments. They are a team that has not been able to perform well at all this season and is currently sitting in the bottom two of the standings.
PSG takes 15.67 shots per match and have an accuracy rate of 48.5%. Strasbourg, on the other hand, takes ten shots per match and have an accuracy rate of 27%. PSG have enjoyed plenty of firepower in their squad this season. They have an xG per 90 of 2.51, whereas Strasbourg have an xG per 90 of 1.13. It will be interesting to see how these two teams go against each other.
Key players
Mbappe may have jetted back to Paris, passing up the holiday his World Cup exertions warranted, but Galtier might not risk his World Cup Golden Boot winner from the start, turning instead to his even younger deputy. In the 2022–23 French Ligue 1 season, Hugo Ekitike has played two matches (plus seven as a sub). They have three shots on target from a total of five and have scored one goal (1.19 xG). Hugo Ekitike averages ten passes per game with an 88% completion rate and two assists.
Kevin Gameiro is a striker for the French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. The France International is currently 35 years old. In the 2022–23 French Ligue 1 season, Kevin Gameiro has played 12 matches (plus three as a sub). They have 16 shots on target from a total of 18 and have scored five goals (4.46 xG). Kevin Gameiro averages 28 passes per match with a pass completion rate of 81% and zero assists.
Team news
With no Messi available to complete the attacking trifecta with Mbappe, Neymar, and Carlos Soler, they could be given the nod in a more advanced role, unless Galtier opts to take a punt on Hugo Ekitike in the final third.
As for Strasbourg, an end to their six-year run in the top flight could befall the visitors unless results pick up in the New Year. They will be looking to survive the battle for relegation this season, and any point against the leaders may prove to be decisive.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
