Ligue 1 Round 17 will see a very thrilling encounter as league leaders Paris Saint-Germain square up to badly struggling Saint-Etienne. PSG are undefeated in the league so far, while St. Etienne tries hard for survival this tough season. In different form and ambitions, the Parc des Princes will host the fight of strategy, skill, and spirit. Can Etienne pull off a surprise, or will PSG's juggernaut roll on?
Claim Your Welcome BonusParis Saint Germain
Paris Saint-Germain leads the French top tier with an unbeaten record comprising 12 wins and 4 draws. Coming into this game, fresh from the dramatic 1-0 win against AS Monaco in the Trophées des Champions, courtesy of Ousmane Dembele's last-gasp strike, the Parisians look unstoppable.
Key Player: Oussmane Dembele, with 8 goals and 4 assists so far, has become the main cog in the wheel for PSG's attack. All in all, Luis Enrique's tactical acumen has brought about a balance between flamboyant offence and resolute defense for PSG.
Team Stats:
* Goals per game: 2.8
* Goals conceded per game: 0.9
* Clean sheets: 5
* Corners per game: 7.5
Solid home form of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss; Dembele in top gear, combined with spectacular goalkeeper Philipp Kohn at times- Paris is in the perfect place to stamp dominance.
Saint Etienne
Meanwhile, Saint-Etienne is having a torrid season, slumping in 15th place with only 5 wins from 16 games. A recent 3-1 win over Reims, thanks to the brace by Augustine Boakye and contributions by Lucas Stassin, provides a glimmer of hope.
Star Player: Zuriko Davitashvili has been one of the few bright sparks for St. Etienne with 5 goals and 2 assists. Coach Erik Horneland will be hoping for consistency from his side, especially on the road, as they have only managed 1 draw and 4 losses.
Team Stats:
* Goals per game: 0.9
* Goals conceded per game: 2.2
* Clean sheets: 3
* Corners per game: 3.1
Their defensive frailty and lack of discipline, having been booked 2.3 yellow cards per game, are alarming signs against a quality opponent like PSG.
Head to Head
History is skewed to the side of PSG, coming out on top in 17 of the last 20 matches as St. Etienne failed to win any. There have been goals galore in recent meetings, with over 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 7 meetings. Despite struggling, Etienne has managed to score in five of their last six meetings, adding an element of unpredictability to this tie.
History of Head-to-Heads
Ligue 1 2021/2022
Saint-Etienne
Ligue 1 2021/2022
PSG
Ligue 1 2020/2021
Saint-Etienne
Ligue 1 2020/2021
PSG
Coupe de France 2019/2020
Saint-Etienne
Expert Betting Tips
The odds are seriously tilted towards PSG's favor. With Dembele leading the powerful attack, they are set to test a St. Etienne defense that has conceded 2.2 goals per game, while PSG also boast a very solid defensive record of 0.9 goals conceded per game with their midfield dictating the play, and thus it looks bleak for St. Etienne.
However, the comeback of Etienne against Reims may give them a fighting spirit. Augustine Boakye's recent form is a ray of hope, but the team's away performances have been abysmal. The home record of PSG and the recent head-to-head dominance make this a tough ask for Etienne.
PSG to Win and Under 4.5 Goals: An unbeaten run, heavy artillery in front, and solid defense make them the overwhelming favorites. (1xbet 1.87 Odds)
Over 2.5 Goals: Both teams have been involved in high-scoring games, and PSG's attacking depth could see goals flow. (Betway 1.30 Odds)
Both Teams to Score No: Considering PSG's strong defensive record and St. Etienne's inconsistency in attack, a clean sheet for PSG is highly probable. (Bet365 1.80 Odds)
Other predictions
