Paris Saint-Germain's Rebound Mission: Can Pogba's Comeback Spark a Title Push?

Match Preview

Paris Saint-Germain, the defending Ligue 1 champions, aim to regain their winning rhythm as they host Nice on Saturday evening in the 11th round of the French league, with Monaco and Marseille chasing to overtake the leaders.

After a disappointing 1-1 draw with Lorient midweek, PSG still lead the table by a single point over Monaco, while Nice continued their ascent with a convincing 2-0 win over Lille, leaving them eighth ahead of the Parc des Princes clash.

Despite holding the top spot, PSG's form in Ligue 1 has raised questions, with only one win in their last four matches (three draws), an unusual drought for a team with one of Europe’s most potent attacks. The dip has allowed rivals to close in and wait for another slip from the champions.

That downturn was clear in the Lorient game, where the team squandered a host of chances, scoring just once despite seven shots on target. Coach Luis Enrique stressed the need to sharpen focus and improve attacking efficiency ahead of Nice.

Nice: a tough barrier for PSG

Nice travel to Paris with confidence after three straight league wins, and they remember their last visit when they shocked the defending champions with a 3-1 victory in Paris back in April.

PSG knows Nice can surprise them again, particularly given the visitors’ energy and their ability to defend solidly and attack effectively on transitions.

Yet PSG remains strong at home this season, having dropped points at the Parc des Princes only once, in a 3-3 thriller with Strasbourg. Enrique will rely on Mbappé, Dembélé, and Vitinha to restore attacking momentum and provide a morale boost before the next Champions League round.

Meanwhile, Monaco continue to press, set to host Paris FC, buoyed by a six-match unbeaten run across all competitions and back-to-back league wins, including a 5-3 victory at Nantes.

Monaco: pressure cooker continues

In the meantime, Marseille also look to bounce back, traveling to Auxerre after a 2-2 draw with Angers in midweek. They sit third, two points behind PSG and one behind Monaco, placing them squarely in the title mix.

But the club has been unsettled, with no win in their last two league games (a draw and a loss to Lens 1-2) and a recent European defeat to Sporting Lisbon 1-2, prompting calls from fans for defensive fixes from coach Roberto De Zerbi.

Angry moments in the Angers game spotlighted a young Marseille player, Billel Nabi, collapsing in the moment, later said to be in good condition by the club. The incident underscored the high-tension environment around a title race that also features European commitments.

Next up, Marseille will face Auxerre, a golden chance to regain momentum and close the gap on the top teams.

Paul Pogba: a comeback on the horizon

Amid the title chase, attention is turning to Paul Pogba, the France midfielder and 2018 World Cup winner, who could return to the pitch after a long lay-off. A string of injuries and a doping ban sidelined him, and he has not played a competitive match since September 2023, his last appearance coming for Juventus in their second spell with the club.

Since joining Monaco in June on a two-year deal, Pogba has been in rehab and training, with coach Sebastien Boukanioli hinting he could feature against Paris FC this week. If he does play, it would be his first official appearance in 26 months and could provide Monaco with a major lift in the title race and a spark of hope for French football fans who dream of seeing one of their golden-generation players back in action.

Numbers and statistics

2: the points separating the top six teams, the closest gap since 2011-2012 and a sign of how tight the race is this season.

9: the points PSG have dropped in their last six league games (out of 18 possible).

26: if Pogba returns, it would mark his first official match in 26 months.

Punchline time: If PSG’s defense were a superhero, it would be “Captain Open-Backdoor”—saving the plot, one goal at a time. And if Pogba comes back and scores, the headline will practically print itself: The prodigal midfielder returns, and the League stands up to applaud (or at least to pretend it has).