Unai Emery’s PSG travel to Stade de la Beaujoire fully expecting to pick up all three points against a Nantes side that have had a very solid season so far. PSG, who are sat in 3^rd place, will be looking to gain on Monaco and OCG Nice, heading into match week 21 of the Ligue 1 2016/17 season. Nantes find themselves in a very respectable 11^th place and have the potential to reach as high as 8^th with a win over PSG.

STATS

PSG fans have been very frustrated with the performances of their side of late, as they’ve only won two of their last five games, drawing one and losing two. For the expectations of a team like PSG, it certainly isn’t good enough and if results don’t improve soon, Unai Emery may have to find himself a new job.

The form of Nantes in their last five games has been much better. They have managed to win four of those games, only losing one, which was to Guingamp. This form has certainly excited their fans and they’ve continued this good run of form even after the winter break, picking up 1-0 wins against Toulouse and Caen.

The form of Edinson Cavani has been one positive aspect of PSG’s season so far, his 18 goals means he is averaging a goal in every 77 minutes of action in the league. He’s a threat that Nantes will definitely need to be aware of.

Nantes haven’t had any stand-out goal scorers so PSG will have to be wary of all their attackers when the home side go forward.

HEAD TO HEAD

The last time, and only time, that Nantes managed to beat PSG was back in 2004 and in the 14 meetings since, PSG have recorded 12 victories with 2 draws. 6 of the last 8 games between the two sides have seen more than 2.5 goals.

Head to head matches: FC Nantes - Paris St Germain

19.11.2016	Ligu	Paris St Germain	FC Nantes	2:0
14.05.2016	Ligu	Paris St Germain	FC Nantes	4:0
26.09.2015	Ligu	FC Nantes	Paris St Germain	1:4

Latest matches: FC Nantes

18.01.2017	Ligu	FC Nantes	SM Caen	1:0	W
14.01.2017	Ligu	Toulouse FC	FC Nantes	0:1	W
10.01.2017	Coup	FC Nantes	AS Nancy	0:2	L
07.01.2017	Coup	Blois Foot	FC Nantes	1:2	W
21.12.2016	Ligu	FC Nantes	Montpellier HSC	1:0	W

Latest matches: Paris St Germain

14.01.2017	Ligu	Stade Rennes	Paris St Germain	0:1	W
11.01.2017	Coup	Paris St Germain	FC Metz	2:0	W
07.01.2017	Coup	Paris St Germain	SC Bastia	7:0	W
04.01.2017	Club	Africain	Paris St Germain	0:3	W
21.12.2016	Ligu	Paris St Germain	FC Lorient	5:0	W

NANTES NEWS

Nantes have definitely capitalised on the lack of quality in the middle of the table in the last few months and it has seen them rise to 11^th, if they were to stay there it would their highest league finish in several years. Nantes were outplayed in the last league meeting at the Parc des Princes where they were defeated by 2 goals to nil by the Ligue 1 champions. Oswaldo Vizcarrondo  misses the game through a yellow card suspension which is a big absence for the home side.

PSG NEWS

PSG have been poor recently and it has seen them slip to 3^rd in the table. Several awful performances against inferior sides means they have lost games that they certainly should have won. Their star-studded team shouldn’t have any problem dispatching Nantes but, with how they’ve been playing, it won’t be easy. Grzegorz Krychowiak and Javier Pastore miss the game through knee injuries, leaving their midfield quite short ahead of the weekend fixture. Serge Aurier is still away on international duty for Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.

SUMMARY

PSG are the definite favourites in this one due to the sheer quality of their side. However, they will have to be careful of complacency at the Stade de la Beaujoire. Nantes might be able to snatch a point, or even maybe a win, against the champions.