PSG have seen their eight-point lead at the top of Ligue One cut to just two points in the last four days by Marseille.
None of it has been their own doing as their game at home to Monaco was postponed due to heavy rains in the Principality and then Marseille played a day before them on match-day 16.
With Marseille defeating Angers 2-0 on Tuesday, PSG will feel they are obligated to defeat Nantes at the Parc de Princes on Wednesday.
Even before the game starts, there will be anxiety among the PSG fans as they wait to see which team manager Tomas Tuchel puts out from the start.
Tuchel made a brave decision 8 days ago as he left Neymar Jr out of the starting team in the 2-2 draw away to Real Madrid.
Luckily for him, it did not prove costly as PSG mounted a comeback in the second half to get a point.
Tuchel is again expected to make another big decision as PSG prepare to take on Nantes.
With Neymar Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria, Edinson Cavani and Mauro Icardi all fit, the gaffer has to decide on the two that start on the bench in order to maintain the team’s shape in midfield.
The Parisians are expected to field Marquinhos, Marco Verratti and Idrisa Gueye in the center of the park leaving only three slots upfront.
While Neymar, who looks short of sharpness, retain his spot on the bench or it will be Di Maria or Icardi who sits this one out? All that will be answered a few minutes to kick-off.
However, PSG will be looking to win a third consecutive Ligue One game and possibly, build a bigger gap at the top.
After losing 2-1 at Dijon, Tuchel’s side has defeated Brest and Lille and as a consequence, sits 8 points clear at the top of the log.
They are yet to look like the ruthless side they have been for the past two years but with the sick-bay clearing by the day, it is just a matter of time.
Ahead of the game on Wednesday, only Ander Herrera and Presnel Kimpembe are certain absentees. Herrera is injured while Kimpembe is suspended.
For Nantes, after losing two games on the trot, they have not lost in their last two.
This past weekend, they defeated Toulouse 2-1, a result that followed a 1-1 draw away to Brest.
Nantes have had an average season so far and will not be angry as they start the day in 7th, just three points off top three.
They have been strong defensively but the issue is that they are not scoring enough. Ahead of the game, they have scored only 14 goals in 15 games despite letting in the same number at the other end.
Nantes will be without the injured duo of Marcus Coco and Fabio for the trip to PSG.
Last season, this fixture produced two home wins with PSG winning the reverse fixture 3-0.
The other fixture to look out for on Wednesday will be Monaco’s trip to Toulouse.
Leandro Jardim’s side are coming off a postponed fixture away to PSG and they will be hoping the extra rest works in their favour as they bid to return to winning ways following a 2-1 loss at Bordeaux in their last game.
Monaco will be fancying their chances in this one as Toulouse have been woeful in the last few weeks.
Toulouse are currently on a four-game losing streak and taking on a resurgent Monaco side cannot be a fixture they would want to play at this moment.
Last season’s reverse fixture ended 1-1 before Monaco won their home tie 3-1.
Tuesday’s Results
-Bordeaux 6-0 Nimes
-Angers 0-2 Marseille
-Brest 5-0 Strasbourg
-Lyon 0-1 Lille
Wednesday, 04-11-2019 Fixtures
-Saint Etienne vs Nice @9pm
-Dijon vs Montpellier @9pm
-Amiens vs Reims @9pm
-Toulouse vs Monaco @9pm
-Metz vs Rennes @9pm
-PSG vs Toulouse @11:05pm
