Preview: In-form Auxerre welcome PSG
Changes to be made?
Following a run of dismal UEFA Champions League displays and a frustrating home draw against FC Nantes last weekend, despite being seven points clear of AS Monaco and Olympique de Marseille in the table, questions have arisen of late over Enrique's suitability for his position. Injuries have played their role in limiting the Spaniard's options -- he has only just has striker Gonçalo Ramos return to full fitness, while Lucás Hernandez remains absent, but failing to beat relegation-threatened Nantes was perhaps the most galling of all of his side's results this season.
Looking ahead to tomorrow's match, Enrique was ebullient, even if he has several decisions to make in attack. Ramos seems certain to start, to be given another chance after failing to find the net against Nantes, but after a seeming falling-out with Ousmane Dembélé, there could be changes elsewhere in the team as he looks to inject more of an attacking threat into his team. Speaking pre-match, Enrique averred, "Our season is still a very good one. It's true that we've made mistakes, but we're analysing them, and I can see considerable growth within the team. I even think that the problems that we've faced in the Champions League can be a positive thing because they'll help us to improve. There's nothing better for self-improvement than being in a difficult position and struggling to win games."
Those struggles will have to come to an end against Auxerre, though, if the pressure is to be eased on Enrique.
Merci la #TeamAJA d’avoir répondu présent ce soir ! 💙🤍#TFCAJA pic.twitter.com/BUdNEnEq7D
— AJ Auxerre (@AJA) December 1, 2024
Pélissier is keen for the challenge
As for his opposite number, things could hardly be better, even if the Burgundians remain a point off the European places. Loanee Hamed Junior Traoré has been an electric presence in attack and despite minimal outlay this summer, relegation looks unlikely, even as a possible challenge for Europe remains. Speaking pre-match, Pélissier acknowledged that PSG's domination of the ball is the team's biggest obstacle, saying, "Against Paris, the opponents have on average between 15 and 20% of the time. We will have to be good when we have the ball."
That has hardly stopped Auxerre this season, though -- the team have had less than 45% of possession, and it hasn't deterred their well-organized press from creating success. With no absences of which to sepak, Auxerre could be well=positioned to further tighten the screws on Enrique in a must-watch affair.
Predicted lineups:
AJ Auxerre (3-4-3): Léon; Diomandé, Jubal, Akpa; Hoever, Owusu, Danois, Mensah; Perrin, Sinayoko, Traoré
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes (or Beraldo; Zaïre-Emery, Neves, Ruiz (or Vitinha); Dembélé (or Kang-In), Ramos, Barcola
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