PSG vs Caen: Les Parisiens aim to move on after UCL disappointment
PSG will have to move on after their Champions League disappointment as they welcome Caen to the Parc des Princes on Saturday.
For the fourth straight season, Les Parisiens made it to the quarter-finals. And for the fourth straight season, PSG failed to progress. This time, it was not Barcelona doing the damage, but rather Manchester City. After a 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes, Laurent Blanc’s men arrived at the Etihad at a disadvantage, and were made to pay for their profligacy in Paris. Kevin De Bruyne’s well-taken strike was enough to see Manuel Pellegrini’s side through, and the Sky Blues are deservedly in the final four for the first time in their history.
PSG, now, will again have to make do with domestic silverware for yet another season. The Ligue 1 title is already in the bag, and next up will two cup ties: the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue. Whilst a domestic treble is nothing to scoff it, it surely will feel like a disappointment for PSG, who were hoping to finally make their mark on Europe, but will have to try their luck next term.
After clinching the title in record fashion, Les Parisiens hit a snag somewhat, and Blanc will be hoping that the team will rebound after their European heartbreak to pick up all three points against Caen. The visitors have not been an opponent that have troubled them in the past, and given that Patrice Grande’s troops have won just one of their past five matches, they will not be expected to do so this time, either.
The last time Caen defeated PSG was nearly exactly eight years ago, on April 19, 2008, when they defeated them 3-0. Since then, the best ever result they have earned have been two 2-2 draws; the most recent taking place on February 14, 2015. Although the visitors sit in ninth and PSG have nearly double their points total (83 vs 46), Blanc will nonetheless field a pretty solid line-up for this fixture. Les Parisiens will need a confidence-boosting win ahead of their mid-week Coupe de France tie against Lille coming up, and they only need seven points to set a new points record in Ligue 1.
The hosts will be without the services of Thiago Motta, who limped off in the clash against Manchester City, whilst Marco Verratti could still be in doubt. As for Caen, they will be missing a whole slew of players due to injury: key defender Emmanuel Imorou is out for the rest of the season, and Syam Ben Youssef, Christian Kouakou as well as Alexandre Raineau will not make the trip.
Will PSG successfully rebound after disappointment in England earlier this week? Or will Caen overcome their eight-year long hoodoo to spring a surprise upset at the Parc des Princes?
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