Paris Saint-Germain must absolutely win against Dijon, Saturday afternoon (5 p.m.), to stay in the race for the title in Ligue 1. But facing the red lantern of the French championship, Mauricio Pochettino's men do not will not be complete, which can be prejudicial to them against a team that is playing for its survival.
Who would have thought that a trip from Paris Saint-Germain to the 27th day of the championship in Dijon would represent a real key moment in the season so special for Parisians?
Beaten at home by Monaco on Sunday, the reigning French champions are expected at the turn in Burgundy on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Third in Ligue 1, they face the red lantern with the obligation to win if they want to stay in contact with Lille and Lyon, ahead of them in the standings.
To achieve this, the players in the capital will have to do without part of their locker room.
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It is indeed a bad habit taken by Paris Saint-Germain: its chronic inability to empty its infirmary.
Six major players are thus forfeited for the match against Dijon.
Marco Verratti, Mauro Icardi, Alessandro Florenzi, Neymar or Angel Di Maria will not be there, just like the Argentinian Leandro Paredes, suspended.
"Be more consistent"
The team lined up at kickoff will therefore be a bit baroque against Dijon, an opponent largely within his reach on paper.
But Paris has shown that it can sometimes get lost in the face of this type of opponent.
"I think we still have this problem in the way we approach certain matches," said coach Mauricio Pochettino.
"If we play all the matches like we did in Barcelona, it might be complicated for our opponents, but sometimes what we have to do is be more consistent. That is our challenge. since we arrived. We have to try to work on this, to make sure we are more consistent and we fight in all competitions, the Champions League, Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. "
Even diminished, the Parisians have no room for error against Dijon, which has two small victories this season and is trying to stay in the top flight.
With 4 points behind the leader Lille, who faces Strasbourg, a new misstep would almost condemn them in the race for the title.