On the eve of the Nice vs. PSG match in the 27th round of Ligue 1, scheduled for Saturday, it is already possible to predict both teams' lineups. On the Parisian side, Luis Enrique has several important absentees but is expected to field a competitive team.

Four days after their 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge and before a two-week international break, PSG travels to Nice on Saturday evening for the 27th round of Ligue 1.

PSG did not play in the league last weekend because their match against Nantes was postponed, but they still hold a one-point lead over Lens heading into this weekend. Lens could, however, temporarily move ahead of PSG if they win Friday evening's opening match of the round against Angers.

For this Nice vs. PSG match, Luis Enrique will be without Fabian Ruiz, Quentin Ndjantou, and, above all, Bradley Barcola, who was injured at Chelsea, as well as right-back Achraf Hakimi, who is suspended. The absence of the Moroccan should logically prompt the Spanish coach to deploy Warren Zaire-Emery at right-back. In goal, Matvey Safonov should start his 12th consecutive match.

For the rest of the defense, Ilya Zabarnyi could start in place of Marquinhos and be paired with Willian Pacho, unless Lucas Beraldo gets the start to give the Ecuadorian a rest. Subbed out in the 66th minute against Chelsea on Wednesday, Nuno Mendes should be able to start against the Eagles.

In midfield, Zaire-Emery will not be there, accounting for two absences alongside Joao Neves, who is being preserved. Vitinha should start as the holding midfielder and Senny Mayulu should accompany him as a box-to-box midfielder. Because Enrique prefers not to take risks with Neves, who came off at halftime against Chelsea due to discomfort, a start for Dro Fernandez is possible, although Lee Kang-in is also a serious contender.

Finally, in attack, Bradley Barcola is unavailable, which will allow Desire Doue to return to the starting lineup on the right. Ousmane Dembele should continue in his very free central role with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on his preferred left side.

PSG predicted lineup vs. Nice: Safonov; Zaire-Emery, Zabarnyi, Pacho (or Beraldo), Mendes; Dro (or Lee), Vitinha, Mayulu; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

On Nice's side, who sit in 15th place in the standings but come off a valuable win at Angers, Claude Puel has the same absentees as last weekend. The Nice coach will, however, be able to count on Elye Wahi, who made a thunderous return from injury against Angers by providing the assist for Melvin Bard and then scoring from long range in stoppage time.

Wahi came off the bench against Angers around the hour mark and could start this time against PSG. It remains to be seen what system Nice will use, as they switched from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 last weekend against Angers and may be tempted to keep that formation against PSG, or even evolve it into a 3-4-3.

Nice predicted lineup vs. PSG: Diouf; Mendy, Dante (c), Bah; Clauss, Sanson, Boudaoui, Bard; Boudache, Wahi, Diop.

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