PSG need morale-boosting win in Ligue 1 to get over unlucky loss to Liverpool
Paris Saint-Germain will hope to boost morale when they go to Rennes in Ligue 1 this weekend before attempting to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool.
PSG were incredibly unlucky not to beat the English Premier League leaders at the Parc des Princes in Wednesday's first leg, a game in which they had 65 percent possession and 28 attempts on goal to the visitors' two.
But the Parisians were denied by an inspired performance from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, which included one stunning late stop from a Desire Doue shot.
There was also a marginal offside decision to rule out a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike in the first half, the Georgian's left calf being just ahead of the last defender.
Harvey Elliott scored the winner for Liverpool in the 87th minute, and the loss for PSG ended a run of 10 straight victories in all competitions in which they had scored 40 goals, as well as a streak of 22 games unbeaten.
Now the reigning French champions face the daunting task of having to win at Anfield if they are to avoid being eliminated from Europe's elite club competition in the last 16 for the sixth time in nine seasons.
However, coach Luis Enrique and his players struck a defiant note following the first leg.
"The game was not decided by little details," Luis Enrique said, describing the outcome of the match as "unfair."
"We lost because Alisson made five incredible saves. Liverpool played the way they did because we didn't let them play the way they normally play.
"One team was far, far superior."
Before heading to England, PSG will look to maintain their unbeaten domestic record this season when they play a Rennes side enjoying a revival under new coach Habib Beye.
Paris are cruising towards their 11th Ligue 1 title in 13 seasons, their lead over second-placed Marseille currently 13 points.
It is more than two years since they were beaten away from home in the league, but mid-table Rennes have won four of their five matches played since Beye's appointment.
"We are not going to pretend to be victims, we know what type of team PSG are," former Marseille, Newcastle United and Aston Villa defender Beye said on Thursday ahead of Saturday's clash in Brittany.
"Either we capitulate or we go out with our heads held high and with ambition."
Player to watch: Emanuel Emegha
Strasbourg have emerged as outside contenders for European qualification thanks in large part to an outstanding defensive record in recent months.
Liam Rosenior's team have kept four straight clean sheets and have conceded only five goals in their last 11 league outings, with seven wins, three draws and just one defeat in that time.
However, 22-year-old Dutch forward Emegha has also played a vital role in that fine run. Emegha is a former Sturm Graz player, just like new Monaco sensation Mika Biereth.
While Biereth has just scored hat-tricks in three of his last five Ligue 1 appearances, Emegha has netted eight times in nine league games.
Four of Strasbourg's seven defeats this season have come with Emegha out injured.
Key stats
7: PSG have lost seven times against Rennes since the Qatari takeover of 2011, more than against any other team in that time.
100: Gianluigi Donnarumma could make his 100th Ligue 1 appearance for PSG this weekend.
7: Relegation battlers Le Havre are looking to end a run of seven straight home league defeats this weekend.
Fixtures
Friday
- Toulouse vs. Monaco
Saturday
- Rennes vs. Paris Saint-Germain
- Lille vs. Montpellier
- Marseille vs. Lens
Sunday
- Brest vs. Angers
- Nantes vs. Strasbourg
- Reims vs. Auxerre
- Le Havre vs. Saint-Etienne
- Nice vs. Lyon