PSG v FC Lorient match preview

By: j | October 17th, 2008

FC Lorient travels to Parc des Princes to face PSG in a Ligue 1 action on Saturday. It has been a difficult start to the campaign for Christian Gourcuff’s charges with only a single victory and five goals in eight matches. The anemic offense coupled with a porous defense has seen the optimism of last years finish vanish and they now sit perilously in the relegation zone.

PSG’s modus operandi is loud and clear now as they are employing a tactically sound defensive model that limits opposition scoring opportunities and sight-lines. Their contre-attaque styling has not proven to be highly lethal at this time but it has safely seen them into mid section of the table and far removed from the nonsense of last year. To some, this been less-than effective and sold the clubs abilities short and rumours abound of Didier Deschamps nearing in the horizon to replace Paul Le Guen.

Heading into the match PSG will be tested with the strategic losses of Mamadou Sakho, Sylvain Armand and Ludovic Giuly. Veteran Sammy Traoré will need to step-up and solidify the back-line with Sylvain out on suspension. The loss of Ludovic is most troubling for PSG as in his absence the offense force has slowed to a trickle and easily defended against. Veteran striker Mateja Kežman is poised and ready to step-up to the occasion and has shown shades of brilliance teaming with Jérôme Rothen and Guillaume Hoarau. Stéphane Sessegnon needs to find the early season attacking form to push the club forward and not to allow the attack to linger. Paul Le Guen will welcome skipper Claude Makélélé back to the line-up from injury. When asked of the clubs objectives against Lorient he noted:

“It is not a priority to score the greatest amount of goals, but to take the three points. Whether you win 1-0 or 7-0 you always have three points at the end of the match.”

He further added:

“For us the players, the priority remains to take points.”

When questioned on the possible coaching change he answered:

“I have a good relationship with Paul Le Guen. We are all behind him.”

For Les Merlus they will head into the match weighed down by lingering injury woes. Marc Boutruche, Ulrich Le Pen and Tunisian international Hamed Namouchi are all out.

I will report on the match as it concludes.