Europe 1 with AFP 10:14 p.m., November 01, 2022

Before the last day of Champions League groups, Paris and Benfica are neck and neck (11 points each) in the standings.

PSG therefore travel to Turin with one objective: to win and finish at the top of the standings.

A victory that will go through a solid defense, weak point of the Parisians lately.

In front, it's fine, behind, hello damage: Paris Saint-Germain seeks against Juventus both first place in its group in the Champions League and a little defensive serenity, Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in Turin.

The weak point of the Parisians is behind, where the defense has lost its bearings during the last matches.

The score of 11-5 over the last two matches, 7-2 against Haifa then 4-3 against Troyes, sums up this season's PSG: a goal-scoring machine, thanks to the crazy talent of Lionel Messi, Neymar (suspended in Turin) and Kylian Mbappé, but in permanent imbalance.

>> READ ALSO

- Football: Presnel Kimpembe package for Juventus-PSG, three weeks before the World Cup

Discover yourself to favor the attack

Even Estac, modest 12th in L1, was able to press where it hurts, "by picking up speed on the sides and exploiting the spaces" and "on transition, one of their flaws", deciphered the coach aubois, Bruno Irles.

But the whole PSG season is likely to be played out on this tightrope walker's thread.

We must assume to discover ourselves to promote the free expression of the "MNM" formed by Messi, Neymar and Mbappé.

"I have three extraordinary players in front", synthesizes Christophe Galtier, who could replace "Ney" by Carlos Soler, Wednesday evening.

"We have to find a system, with a complementary organization in the midfield, so that they can express themselves more freely".

>> READ ALSO

- Football: do political messages have their place in the stands of stadiums?

Oiled threesome

In this organization with a diamond midfielder and Messi and Mbappé at the forefront, "being able to defend more in density allows us to have transitions, when one of the three goes with the ball, it plays fast, it plays fair, it plays the for each other, and it's very pleasant to see", continues the technician.

When everything is oiled in front, it gives Lille a 7-1 or last week's 7-2 against Maccabi Haifa.

The question remains: how to organize to defend, knowing that in addition, with the suspension of Neymar, Galtier loses the one of the three who works the most in the first curtain.

And Presnel Kimpembe, who has just resumed after seven weeks of absence, is forfeited for discomfort in the right Achilles tendon.

>> 

READ HERE

- Varane, Koundé, Pogba: what is the latest news a few weeks before the World Cup?

Imbalance

"Who to put behind them to be fair in the recovery, intense in the recovery", wonders the coach.

He is spoiled for choice with in-form players.

Marco Verratti, suspended against Haifa, returns, Fabian Ruiz is going through "a good period", underlines Galtier, Vitinha has had an excellent start to the season and Renato Sanches is coming back well after two injuries.

Be careful, however, the first leg against Juve, won 2-1, had already illustrated the imbalance that still awaits this team: PSG scored two magnificent goals, by Mbappé, before conceding one from a set piece, a another weakness identified, and risking a draw on a misunderstanding in a match that he had yet flown over.

Paris needs a victory in Turin, to keep first place in the group ahead of Benfica.

The two teams are tied at 11 points, not separated by the particular confrontation (twice 1-1).

But Paris has the advantage over Lisbon, traveling to Haifa, on goal difference, +8 against +4, thanks precisely to its marvelous offensive power.