[[[WATCH===]]<] PSG - Lorient live match 12/08/2023
Team NewsBoth managers should have access to fully fit squads with the only doubts concerning players who may end up departing in the transfer market between now and the end of August. It's difficult to know exactly how PSG will line up under former Barcelona and Spain boss Enrique, but high-profile summer arrivals Manuel Ugarte, Lucas Hernandez, Milan Skriniar and Marco Asensio will all surely be pushing for starting places. Lorient have made a number of notable signings themselves, with former Manchester City left back Benjamin Mendy almost certain to start this weekend, and the likes of impressive centre back Formose Mendy and forward Aiyegun Tosin also in contention to make their Ligue 1 debuts against PSG.
Key PlayersAs he did during pre-season, Enrique is expected to continue experimenting with a false 9 system, with his countryman Marco Asensio playing through the middle. His ability to fulfil this role could be crucial to the success of this new-look PSG in a post-Mbappe era. The Frenchmen isn't out the door yet but it's only a matter of time before he either leaves or is relegated to the bench for the season. While the club are desperate to offload fellow forward Neymar, their approach is expected to be a lot less harsh with the Brazilian. Having featured during pre-season, he could make an impact here, as despite his age and injury problems, he is still world class.
To improve on their 10th place finish last time around would be considered a success. Bournemouth were one of the five teams Lorient came up against in preparation for this new campaign, losing 2-0 to the Premier League side. They went undefeated in their other four pre-season friendlies, winning three and drawing one, against Ligue 1 opposition in Le Havre, Strasbourg and Nantes, and Ligue 2 side US Concarneau. Régis Le Bris' side have certainly had their shooting boots on in pre-season, scoring twice in two of those friendlies and three times in two others. The head coach will hope they can keep that scoring form going into their clash with reigning champions PSG this weekend.
▶️ PSG vs Lorient Live Stream & Prediction, H2HPublished: 15:52, 9 Aug 2023 Updated: 15:55, 9 Aug 2023 PSG begin their Ligue 1 title defence this weekend as they welcome Lorient to the Parc des Princes in search of a 7th French top flight title in 10 years. Key TakeawaysPSG were beaten by Inter Milan and Cerezo Osaka in pre-seasonLorient finished 10th in Ligue 1 last seasonKylian Mbappe will not start this game for the reigning championsA new era in Paris has begun with Luis Enrique taking the reigns at PSG and a new, youth-focused approach to squad building in the pipeline.
Head-to-HeadLorient should be quite confident going into this one. Surprisingly, despite having a far smaller budget, they have managed to bloody the nose of the Paris giants on multiple occasions of late. They won the last meeting between the two sides, 3-1 in April, and have actually avoided defeat in three of their last six meetings with PSG, making a win for this weekend's hosts PSG far from a foregone conclusion.
Nevertheless, an evolution is underway at Paris Saint-Germain and these things take time. Coach Luis Enrique will need space to work and implement his ideas. Kylian Mbappe and Neymar will likely be joining Lionel Messi out the door before the window is closed, and a bunch of young, hungry and talented stars will probably take their places. There is positivity on the horizon but the club is on the cusp of starting this new era - not quite there yet. Lorient FormLorient head into their fourth season back in the French top flight on the back of a respectable mid-table finish. The club will hope to push on this season after being purchased by Bournemouth owner Bill Foley earlier this year.
Lorient vs Paris Saint-Germain H2H - Livescore
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lorient (Aug 12, 2023) Live Score