Ready for Brest: guess who's finally back after two long months?
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 25.10.25. | 16:02
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele returns to action as PSG face the underdogs in the opening match of Ligue 1's Saturday programme (6 pm)
It seemed at the start of the season that Paris Saint-Germain would stroll to the crown as they did the past two years, but Marseille are now in front. Robert De Zerbi's side have won five in a row in Ligue 1, leaving PSG chasing.
The European champions are unstoppable in the Champions League, but domestic form has wobbled: just one win in the last four Ligue 1 rounds! The recent defeat in France's biggest derby at the Velodrome (0-1) was followed by draws in Lille (1-1) and, eight days ago, at Parc des Princes against Strasbourg (3-3, after trailing 1-3).
Injured players are returning slowly, but there's no doubt that Luis Enrique's team remain favorites to defend the title. The Spanish coach is known for throwing youth into the fire - the spotlight falls on right-back David Boly, born in 2009. In the future, he could replace Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi.
Boly has joined first-team training and is in contention for today's clash at Brest (6 pm). It wouldn't be a surprise if Luis Enrique give him his debut straight away.
PSG will still be without two midfield lynchpins: Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz. Neves trained on Friday but is not expected to start, while Ruiz continues his recovery from the injury suffered against Barcelona in the Champions League earlier this month.
Desire Doue is back in action, and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele could finally return to Ligue 1 after almost two months out. He came off the bench in Tuesday's Champions League win at Leverkusen (28 minutes, scoring in a 7-2 rout). Luis Enrique may give him the final half-hour against Brest.
Brest started the season poorly but are unbeaten in their last four matches, including two consecutive draws. Last season, PSG dominated all four meetings: 7-0 and 3-0 in the Champions League, 5-2 in Brest and 3-1 at Parc des Princes in Ligue 1. That's an average of 4.5 goals per game for Les Parisiens.
Tonight's clash will test PSG's resilience and give a glimpse of the next generation rising through Luis Enrique's ranks.
LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 9
Friday
Paris - Nantes 1-2 (1-2)
/Chergui 15 - El Arabi 2, Abline 38/
Saturday
18.00: (8.00) Brest (5.30) PSG (1.35)
20.00: (1.85) Monaco (4.00) Toulouse (4.00)
22.05: (2.85) Lens (3.40) Olympique Marseille (2.45)
Sunday
17.00: (1.35) Lille (5.50) Metz (10.0)
19.15: (2.60) Angers (3.10) Lorient (2.90)
19.15: (2.15) Auxerre (3.35) Le Havre (3.45)
19.15: (2.30) Rennes (3.45) Nice (3.05)
22.45: (2.15) Olympique Lyon (3.45) Strasbourg (3.35)
***odds are subject to change***
.jpg)
