Trophee des Champions 2022: Messi, Neymar likely to start for PSG against Nantes

The 2022 Trophee des Champions will be played between PSG and Nantes

Dhaka
July 31, 2022, 01:00 PM
by Faisal Moarafur Rasul

UNB News
Dhaka
Publish- July 31, 2022, 01:00 PM
Faisal Moarafur Rasul
Update- July 31, 2022, 01:30 PM

Trophee des Champions 2022: Messi, Neymar likely to start for PSG against Nantes

Messi, Neymar and PSG players celebrate a goal while playing in a Champions League match (AP)

The winners of the Coupe de France compete against the Ligue 1 champions in the Trophee des Champions each year. The Trophee des Champions 2022 will be played between the Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and Coupe de France winners Nantes on Monday at the Bloomfield Stadium at 12 a.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Superstar footballers Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. are most likely to start for PSG in this contest. The Paris Saint-Germain vs Nantes match preview and probable team lineups are discussed in this article.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Nantes Trophee des Champions 2022: Probable team lineups

PSG will be without their most expensive player, Kylian Mbappe, for this Trophee des Champions 2022 clash against Nantes. The French forward will serve a one-game ban, which means Argentine forward Mauro Icardi will likely partner with Brazilian Neymar Jr. upfront. Lionel Messi will serve as a false 9. Messi will play between the two strikers.

PSG’s new head coach, Christophe Galtier, used a 3-4-1-2 system in the pre-season friendlies in Japan and his side looked sharp with the new formation. In particular, the connection between Messi and Neymar has been noticeable. In the midfield, Marco Verratti and Vitinha are very much in the coach’s plan for next season.

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Predicted starting XI (PSG)

GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma;

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, Sergio Ramos;

Midfielders: Marco Verratti, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes;

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Mauro Icardi

Nantes’ head coach, Antoine Kombouare, previously managed Paris Saint-Germain's senior team from 2009 to 2011 and won a Coupe de France trophy in 2010. Twelve years later, Kombouare won the trophy with Nantes as manager last season. His side finished ninth in Ligue 1 in the 2021-2022 season. Nobody will bet on Nantes to win the game. Their primary goal in the game would be to put up a fight against PSG.

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Predicted starting XI (Nantes)

GK: Alban Lafont;

Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nicolas Pallois, Andrei Girotto, Sebastien Corchia;

Midfielders: Moussa Sissoko, Samuel Moutoussamy, Quentin Merlin, Ludovic Blas;

Forwards: Moses Simon, Mostafa Mohamed.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Nantes H2H Stats

Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes have met each other on 31 occasions. PSG have led head-to-head stats with 25 wins, while Nantes have won only three matches and the remaining three matches ended in a draw. Given the stats, Nantes seem to have no chance against the Parisian club.

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However, Nantes have a good record in recent duels, winning two of their three victories in the previous three meetings. All of their three victories came at the Stade de la Beaujoire, the home ground of Nantes. A total of 86 goals have been scored between the two sides, where PSG have netted 67, while Nantes have scored only 19.

Match prediction:

PSG 3 – 1 Nantes

Verdict

Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes will miss a few of their regular starters for this Trophee des Champions 2022 match. Mbappe missing the contest due to suspension is the biggest of them all. However, PSG have some world-class footballers in their squad who will draw fans to watch the game.

Lionel Messi and Neymar are the two big stars for PSG who can rattle the opposition defense and dazzle the crowds. PSG are overwhelmingly favourites to clinch the trophy, but ruling completely out the Nantes side wouldn’t be justified. Because anything is possible in a one-off contest and Nantes have the ability to stun the French giant in this year’s Trophee des Champions.

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