Preview: Nice vs. Paris Saint-Germain - prediction, team news, lineups

Manager Christophe Galtier's job is in real jeopardy after a shocking set of results in the past two months.

Match preview

Back-to-back to home defeats for PSG domestically is an almost unbelievable occurrence, but their star-studded line up have been humbled by both Rennes and Lyon in their last two games.

Both of those defeats saw them fail to score too, and it would be the first time in 16 years they draw three consecutive blanks if they fail to find the net here at the Allianz Riviera.

Those two losses have brought Lens and Marseille back into the title picture, as the gap has been shortened to six points between PSG and the chasing pack.

The Parisiens may be fearful of a capitulation, but it is worth noting that no side has ever lost the title with such a lead at this stage of a Ligue 1 season before.

However, a run of six defeats in 10 games needs rapid improvement otherwise the two clubs chasing them will close the gap further.

Galtier is still in a job for now, but it is almost certain that he will depart the Parc des Princes at the end of the season, if not earlier, after an extremely underwhelming first season as manager.

Nice also come into this one on the back of a very disappointing result following the international break.

A draw with bottom-placed Angers was a huge let-down and has scuppered their European hopes greatly.

Failing to beat a side 15 points from safety at the bottom means they are winless in four games, having drawn all of them.

Drawing has been the story of Nice's season, as they are actually on a very impressive unbeaten run, but they are not winning enough games.

Not since early January when third-tier Le Puy-en-Velay knocked them out of the Coupe de France have Nice been beaten, a run which stretches back 14 games, leaving them two shy of their club record set in 1984.

This will be the toughest test they have faced during this unbeaten run though, as they have beaten PSG just three times in their last 24 meetings.

Being seven points off fifth place may mean Didier Digard decides to focus more so on their upcoming Europa Conference League tie with Basel over the next two weeks, but there will be an acknowledgement that this is not a PSG side playing at the top of their game currently.

Nice Ligue 1 form:

D

W

D

D

D

D

Nice form (all competitions):

D

W

D

W

D

D

Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form:

W

W

W

W

L

L

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

L

L

Team News

Youcef Atal (thigh) and Sofiane Diop (knee sprain) are both out for Nice, but the duo are set to return in the next week or two.

Hicham Boudaoui returned from Algeria duty with an injury, while Jordan Lotomba's ankle issue will keep him out until May.

Terem Moffi should start up front, and the January recruit has hit the ground running at Nice with eight goal contributions in nine games since moving from Lorient, where he had a sensational start to the season.

Marco Verratti went off on the hour mark for PSG in defeat to Lyon last week, but the diagnosis is still unknown as to the severity of the problem.

Neymar and Presnel Kimpembe are out with season-ending injuries, while calf injuries to Sergio Ramos and Nordi Mukiele will see them out for another week at least.

A muscle injury for Carlos Soler should also rule the Spaniard out of this encounter.

Marquinhos is set to make his 400th appearance for PSG after racking up game number 399 by returning from injury to face Lyon last week.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Mendy, Todibo, Dante, Ndayishimiye, Bard; Rosario, Thuram; Pepe, Moffi, Laborde

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Danilo, Marquinhos, Bitshiabu; Hakimi, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, Renato Sanches, Nuno Mendes; Messi, Mbappe

We say: Nice 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain

A third successive league defeat seems scarcely believable for a team with PSG's talent, but it will not be easy on the French coast for them here.

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