PSG ready to take French title back from Monaco
PARIS, France: Paris SaintGermain will reclaim the French title if they beat reigning champions and current secondplaced side Monaco at the Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
The Qatar-backed Parisians lead Monaco by 14 points with six games to go, meaning they are on the brink of a fifth title in six seasons, despite having to cope without the injured Neymar for more than a month.
The Brazilian has been in his home country recovering from a foot operation and PSG are hoping to have him back before the end of the season.
“I still need a month to make a full recovery,” Neymar told Brazilian television on Friday.
But they should be champions well before any possible return date for the world’s most expensive player, and beating Monaco would be the perfect way to seal the deal.
It would come a year after the side from the principality finished eight points clear of PSG at the summit in a campaign which also saw them reach the Champions League semi-finals.
“Knowing that we can be champions at home, against our main rivals this season and the team that kidnapped the title from us last season, is an exciting moment,” defender Marquinhos told PSG TV.
PSG’s campaign has been overshadowed by their defeat against Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, but they are on course for a clean sweep of the domestic trophies.
Unai Emery’s side have a 100 percent home record and if they can keep that up they will be able to celebrate the seventh title in their history on Sunday.
PSG have won their last five meetings with Leonardo Jardim’s side too, including a 3-0 victory in the recent League Cup final, when Kylian Mbappe ran his old club ragged.
The 19-year-old will make his loan move permanent in a 180 million-euro ($222 million) deal at the end of this season, when PSG will hope to spend big again to rebuild for another assault on Europe.
PSG have two key doubts with midfield general Marco Verratti injured groin while striker Kylian Mbappé is sick.
“Marco is working with the doctor, we don’t want a relapse and Kylian didn’t train yesterday with a poorly stomach,” coach Unai Emery said Friday.
Ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel emerged as favourite to take over from Emery in the PSG dugout this week. - AFP