Lineups, Stakes, and Setting
PSG head coach Luis Enrique unveiled the starting XI for Saturday's Ligue 1 clash with Nice, the 11th round of the season, as the Parisian champions seek to maintain early momentum and pressure in defense of their title.
After resting Hakimi in the 1-1 draw with Lorient on Wednesday, the Moroccan star returns to the lineup and will wear the captain's armband against Nice at the Parc des Princes, signaling a clear message of leadership for a demanding match.
Enrique will deploy a setup that features goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, a back line with Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, a midfield quartet led by Warren Zaire-Emery alongside Vitinha and Joao Neves, and the attacking duo Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola ready to pull the strings in the final third.
On the bench are Matvei Safonov, Renato Marin, Lucas Peraldo, Marquinhos, Lucas Hernandez, Fabián Ruiz, Li Kang-In, Gonzalo Ramos, Kenten Ngantou, and Ousmane Dembélé, all options for Enrique as the game progresses.
Nice, coached by Eis, names a starting XI that includes a mix of experience and youth as they aim to upset the defending champions on foreign soil.
Before kickoff, PSG sit atop the table on 21 points from six wins, three draws, and one loss, having scored 20 goals and conceded nine. Nice occupy eighth with 17 points after five wins, two draws, and three losses, with 16 goals for and 15 against.
The clash promises a stern test for Paris, with Nice arriving on a three-game league winning run and carrying memories of their last visit to Paris, when they beat the reigning champions 3-1 in April at the same venue.
PSG know they can be surprised again, given Nice's energy, defensive discipline, and ability to strike decisively on transitions.
Season snapshot
PSG have six league wins, one loss to Marseille in the classic Classique, a weather-delayed fixture, and two draws, as they chase the domestic crown for a fifth straight season. Their early-season run saw wins over Nantes and Angers (1-0), a 6-3 thrashing of Toulouse, a 2-0 win over Lens, and another 2-0 victory at Auxerre. Before the October international break, Paris drew 1-1 away to Lille, then 3-3 with Strasbourg at the Parc, briefly relinquishing top spot before reclaiming it with a Brest win and a Lorient draw.
In Europe, PSG have four wins from four group-stage matches, opening with a UEFA Super Cup triumph on penalties over Tottenham after a 2-2 draw. They followed up with group-stage wins: Atalanta (4-0), Barcelona (2-1), and Leverkusen (7-2). The summer transfer window brought three signings aimed at shoring up defense and goalkeeping: Lucas Chevalier from Lille, Elia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth, and Renato Marin from Roma.
