Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is gearing up for a crucial match against Le Havre in Ligue 1 this weekend. Luis Enrique, the team's manager, has called on his players to finish 2025 on a high note. PSG has had an outstanding year, securing their first Champions League title in May and winning three other major trophies, including the league title. They currently lead Ligue 1 by two points and have accumulated nine points from four Champions League matches.
PSG has been dominant across Europe's top five leagues since the start of the year. They have won more games in all competitions than any other team, with 45 victories. Additionally, they have scored 157 goals, surpassing Barcelona by at least 11 goals. The team entered the November international
break after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Lyon in Le Classique, with Joao Neves scoring a last-minute winner.
Luis Enrique expressed satisfaction with the return of all players to training after having only six available recently. He stated, "We only had six players in training yesterday, but we've got everyone back today, which we're happy about. " With eight games remaining before the winter break, PSG is eager to continue their strong performance.
The match against Le Havre marks the beginning of a busy period for PSG, who will play seven more times before the end of the year. After facing Le Havre, they will host Tottenham in the Champions League and also face Monaco, Rennes, and Metz in Ligue 1. Additionally, they will compete against Athletic Bilbao in Europe and participate in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final on December 17.
Le Havre presents a challenge for PSG as they remain unbeaten in their last four Ligue 1 matches. Didier Digard's team finished just above the relegation zone last season but narrowly lost 2-1 to PSG during their previous visit to Paris. Luis Enrique anticipates another tough encounter and remarked that these post-international break games can be tricky due to potential lapses in focus.
Key Players to Watch
For PSG, Vitinha has been instrumental this season with six assists in Ligue 1, matching his career-best tally. He leads European leagues in passes completed (1125), passes into the final third (345), and line-breaking passes (207). Meanwhile, Le Havre's Issa Soumare has scored three goals this season and leads his team with two assists and 15 chances created.
Match Prediction: PSG Favoured
Historically, Le Havre has struggled against PSG, losing eight of their last nine encounters. However, they are currently on a strong run with only one loss in their last eight top-flight matches. They have also kept clean sheets in their last two away games and could achieve three consecutive away clean sheets for the first time since early 1999.
Despite these challenges from Le Havre, PSG remains strong at home with four clean sheets from five Ligue 1 matches this season. Marquinhos is set to make his 500th appearance for PSG across all competitions if he plays this weekend. According to Opta's win probability model, PSG has a 77.5% chance of winning against Le Havre.
As PSG looks forward to maintaining their lead at the top of Ligue 1 and advancing further in European competitions, every match becomes crucial for them to sustain their momentum into the new year.
