PSG v Nice match preview
Four days before the most important match of their campaign so far, Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain will aim to protect their unbeaten league record against opponents who handed them their first defeat at the Parc des Princes last season.
Terem Moffi put Nice 1-0 and 3-1 ahead at PSG in September 2023, with Gaetan Laborde also scoring for the visitors and Kylian Mbappe twice replying for Paris.
“It’s a special scenario,” PSG manager Luis Enrique said, discussing his team’s prospects of becoming the first ever Ligue 1 side to go a season unbeaten.
“This is the first time this has happened to us, as a staff, to be champions by such a large margin. It’s a good thing there are still records to break; it motivates us.”
Today’s winners! 😁💪 pic.twitter.com/t50tuGleH4
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 23, 2025
While Luis Enrique is predictably keen to emphasise how professionally PSG are approaching their task, the 2014/15 Champions League winner with Barcelona acknowledged that he would swap defeat to Nice for victory over Arsenal in their European semi-final, which starts with the first leg in London on Tuesday (20:00 BST).
When he was asked whether PSG’s priorities could boost his side’s chances, Nice manager Franck Haise admitted he was “not sure”.
“When you look at them, it’s [never] the right time for anyone,” added Haise, via L’Equipe, also taking encouragement from Nice’s 1-1 home draw in the fixture on October 6. “I looked at their matches against the top 10. In 16 matches, they have 15 wins and one draw, against us.
“You start by dreaming, like all the players and coaches who face PSG. It’s important to dream in life. Then you face reality.
The final training session before Paris (A) ⚔️#psgogcn pic.twitter.com/tSIVmHuvrK
— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) April 24, 2025
“You have to be at your best. We know very well that even if we’re at 100% of our ability, when we play PSG, it’s not necessarily enough.”
PSG drew 1-1 at Nantes in their last outing, on April 22, and won each of their previous two domestic games by a goal. “I would have preferred them to win their last two league matches by a wide margin,” said Haise. “We know we’re going to have to run a lot without the ball – even more than usual.
“Everything [PSG do] is better than at the start of the season – their teamwork, playmaking, substitutions, clearances, pressing and counter-pressing.”
