Preview: PSG look to foil Rennes European dreams in gameweek 28

LIGUE 1 Preview: PSG look to foil Rennes European dreams in gameweek 28

Ayoola Kelechi Stephen Oladehinde 12:13 - 17.03.2023

PSG's clash with Rennes highlights Ligue 1's gameweek 28 fixtures

Paris Saint-Germain are getting over their elimination from the UEFA Champions League the best way possible, by dominating Ligue 1 and scuppering other teams’ goals for the season. 

PSG pushed Brest closer to relegation with a 2-1 win in gameweek 27, and in gameweek 28, they will be looking to push Rennes out of the European places for next season as well. 

PSG take on Rennes in gameweek 28's biggest clash

The Paris club is undefeated in Ligue 1 since they lost to Monaco in mid-February and have played out dramatic last-minute wins over Lille and Brest while dominating Marseille and Nantes in easy wins, while there is no telling how the match will play out, you can be certain that it will take an almighty effort to stop PSG from getting all three points again. 

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If Rennes manage to do this, they will have done a double over PSG after beating Le Parisiens 1-0 in the reverse fixture, becoming the only side to do so this season. 

In fixtures between the two sides, no team has won both league matches since the 2015/16 season when PSG did the double over Rennes. 

Rennes are not in the best form to challenge PSG after losing four of their last seven matches in Ligue 1, with only two wins in that time. 

Messi-Mbappe combination to carry PSG again

PSG will be looking for the special partnership between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to yield fruit again for them in Ligue 1 after the duo combined for the winner against Brest last week. 

In total, Messi has assisted nine of Mbappe’s goals in Ligue 1, more than double any other goalscorer-assist provider combination in the 2022/23 season. 

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When those two find their rhythm, it is incredibly hard to stop them and it is no wonder that Mbappe is the league's top scorer with 19 goals, while Messi tops the assists chart with 13 

Friday in Ligue 1 

The opening game in Ligue 1 this weekend will see Lyon host Moses Simon’s Nantes, as the away side look to end a poor run of four games without a win against their underperforming hosts. 

Saturday in Ligue 1

There are only two fixtures on Saturday in Ligue 1. First Lille travel to mid-table Toulouse hoping to take advantage of any dropped points from Rennes to enter the final European qualification spot on the table. 

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Erstwhile title contenders Lens will also be in action, against bottom club Angers and are almost assured of three points in the tie given Angers recent form. 

Sunday in Ligue 1

Besides the cracker between PSG and Rennes, Sunday in Ligue 1 will see six more fixtures, starting with Ajaccio taking on Monaco in hopes of getting out of the relegation zone with a win, however unlikely. 

Nice will have to take on Lorient without star forward Terem Moffi after the Nigerian forward was barred from playing against Les Tangos et Noirs after he only stopped playing for them in January when he joined his current team. 

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Troyes and Brest also play on Sunday, in one of the relegation battles being fought that day, the other being Strasbourg versus Auxerre. 

A mid-table clash will see Montpellier host Clermont, hoping to climb above them in the league standings. 

The final match of the gameweek will see Folarin Balogun and Reims host Marseille, hoping to continue their 19-match unbeaten run. 

Expert Predictions for Ligue 1 gameweek 28 

In-house betting expert Stephen Oladehinde gives the best predictions from each game in this Ligue 1 round

Lille vs Lyon — Home handicap +2

Auxerre vs  Rennes — Under 3.5 goals

Brest  vs PSG — PSG to win 

Clermont  vs  Lens —  under 3.5 goals

AC Ajaccio  vs  Montpellier —  under 3.5 goals 

Angers  vs  Toulouse —  Home handicap +2

Lorient  vs  Troyes —  Home handicap +2 

Nantes  vs  Nice —  Under 3.5 goals

Monaco  vs  Reims —  over 2.5 goals

Marseille  vs  Strasbourg —  Marseille to win

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