Paris Saint-Germain vs Ajaccio: Expect over 3.5 goals in this fixture

PSG will host relegation-threatened AC Ajaccio at the Parc des Princes on Saturday evening when Ligue 1 resumes play with a new round of games this weekend, but they will not be able to formally reaffirm their title as Ligue 1 champions this weekend. Last Saturday, the star-stubbed PSG defeated Troyes convincingly while their visitors earned a respectable goalless draw with Coupe de France champion Toulouse.

PSG is currently leading the league standings but has not played especially well this year. The Parisian giants defeated Troyes easily in their previous match, and they will be optimistic going into this match.

Ajaccio, on the other hand, is presently in 18th place in Ligue 1 and has not played well thus far this year. The away team will have to put in a lot of effort if they want to replicate last week's valuable goalless draw with Toulouse.

PSG is the clear favorite and it will not be strange for the home side in a high-scoring game. 

The soap opera at PSG threatened to thwart the champions' last drive for gold, maybe not for the first time this season and certainly not the last. Les Parisiens suspended Lionel Messi for an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, sending a clear message that no player is above the club.

The PSG coach, Galtier, has confirmed that Messi will be back in the starting lineup this weekend after initially receiving a two-week club suspension. On Monday, PSG stated that Messi had returned to individual practice after publicly apologizing for his trip.

Achraf Hakimi, who served a one-game ban last weekend for his red card against Lorient, is another player who will come off the bench, but Nuno Mendes (hamstring), Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Neymar (ankle), and Nordi Mukiele (hamstring) are all out for the remainder of the campaign. A knee issue makes Timothee Pembele's participation uncertain as well.

PSG's potential starting lineup:

Goalkeeper: Donnarumma

Defenders: Pereira, Marquinhos, Ramos

Midfielders: Hakimi, Verratti, Vitinha, Bernat

Strikers: Messi, Ekitike, Mbappe

Ajaccio had less than 40% possession and faced 14 efforts on goal at the Stade Francois-Coty in the goalless draw against Toulouse facing. However, Ajaccio managed to secure a well-deserved point. While a loss would not have sealed their doom, that goalless draw has merely postponed it.

Ajaccio's instant return to Ligue 2 will be sealed unless they can pull off the shock victory of all shock victories at the Parc des Princes, along with hope that at least one of Strasbourg, Brest, or Auxerre lose their respective matches. With only four games left, they have an 11-point deficit to safety.

The division's worst attacking team would need a significant change in goal differential in the final few weeks of the season, and facing Rennes, Lens, and Marseille in their final three games should mean that preparations for a 2023–24 promotion push are already well underway.

With regards to injury, Ajaccio, which had three players suspended last week, will reinstate two of them for the trip to Paris now that Ismael Diallo and Mounaim El Idrissy are available after serving out their suspensions for accruing too many yellow cards.

Yoann Touzghar still has this weekend's game to complete his three-game suspension, while Mickael Barreto and Youcef Belaili are absent because of injuries and disciplinary difficulties, respectively.

Returning from injury, El Idrissy will anticipate replacing Riad Nouri in the attacking third right away, but despite last week's flawless performance, Diallo is far from a lock to replace on-loan Lyon player, Youssouf Kone

Ajaccio's possible starting lineup:

Goalkeeper: Sollacaro

Defenders: Youssouf, Vidal, Gonzalez, Diallo

Midfielders: Marchetti, Mangani, Coutadeur

Strikers: Hamouma, El Idrissy, Spadanuda

PSG hasn't exactly been a force to be reckoned with on their home turf lately, but as their guests bid farewell to the big boys in less-than-ideal style, it should just be a matter of how many Les Parisiens they can pile up. It should be remembered that PSG has a strong team at their disposal although this season has not produced much silverware as expected. This season, Kylian Mbappe has stepped up to lead the Parisians, and he will need to perform at his peak this weekend to ensure a win.

This season, Ajaccio has battled in the top division; they cannot afford another disaster on Saturday. On paper, PSG is the superior team, thus they should be able to prevail in this match. Although Ajaccio showed off their newly acquired defensive prowess during Toulouse's visit, it will be difficult to replicate that at the Parc des Princes considering the fact that PSG is going all out for the win.

A high-scoring win is anticipated for PSG. A 4-0 or 4-1 scoreline is anticipated with a goal or assist from the young captain, Mbappe.