Talk about a dormant soccer volcano ready to erupt!
In a nutshell, that’s Paris Saint Germain.
The long-time underachievers of European football might finally be ready to make a move, as their early-season efforts in Ligue Un indicate. And this weekend comes another test to see if PSG’s long-suffering support base might really have a Le Championnat contender on its hands.
Indeed, French soccer takes a rare front-and-center spot on the European football stage this weekend when PSG plays host to Lille at Parc des Princes on Sunday. The same day, the EPL offers a tasty treat when Arsenal travels to Manchester City.
We’ll get to that match at Eastlands in a moment. First, however, a detour into Paris.
This early-term crucial in Ligue Un kicks off at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, and can be watched online at LiveSoccerTV.com. European wagering shops have priced a PSG win at 6/5, with the take- back on a Lille victory at 12/5. The draw is priced at 11/5, with the 2½-goal total priced around even money both ways.
A quick check of the Ligue Un table indicates why this matchup carries so much importance. PSG is level with Montpellier at the top of the table on 36 points, with Lille (on 34 points) and Lyon (32 points) close behind. Lille is defending its Ligue Un crown this term and making a good fist of it, although it has been knocked out of Champions League competition when finishing bottom of a hotly-contested Group B.
The real storyline in France this autumn, however, has been the resurrection of PSG, which has long teased but never established itself as the powerhouse football entity that it has the potential to become. Indeed, many Euro football insiders have looked at PSG’s resources as the only major football force in one of the world’s great cities and wondered why more trophies have not flowed into the Parc des Princes, a splendid facility not far from Roland Garros, where the French Open tennis tournament is conducted late each spring. PSG continues to seek its first Ligue Un crown since the 1993-94 campaign, a title drought that has had many Euro football aficionados scratching their heads for a long while.
Things might be changing under the watchful eye of club president Leonardo, a former playing great who opened up the checkbook over the summer to sign attacking Argentinian midfielder Javier Pastore from Palermo. Reports are that PSG is also in the market to lure David Beckham to the Parc des Princes.
But the combination of Pastore, Brazilian winger Nene, and exciting young striker Kevin Gameiro – likely to be featured for the French side at next summer’s Euro 2012 –) has created an electric attack force that has combined for 22 of PSG’s 30 goals in Ligue Un this term. Recent losses to AS Nancy and Marseille, along with a difficult time in its Europa League group, seemed to have manager Antoine Kombouare’s job in some trouble before recent Ligue Un wins over Auxerre and Sochaux temporarily stopped the bleeding.
Without Champions League duties as a further distraction, Lille can focus upon retaining its domestic crown for manager Rudi Garcia. Senegalese striker Moussa Sow, with nine goals in a ll competitions this term, is likely to draw significant interest in the upcoming winter transfer window, having already proclaimed an interest in moving to England, with Arsenal his preferred destination.
Speaking of the Gunners, they’re in action on Sunday as well at the Eastlands against host Manchester City in the featured EPL attraction of the weekend. Kickoff on Sunday will be at 11:10 a.m. (ET), with TV coverage in the states provided by the FOX Soccer Channel.
English wagering shops have priced a Man City win at 7/10, with an Arsenal victory listed at 4/1. The draw is priced at 11/4, while a play on ‘under’ 2½ goals is priced at 6/5.
A quick look at the EPL table underscores the importance of this matchup for both sides. Especially the Gunners, who after a slow start have moved back into position to get into the top four and qualify for next year’s Champions League. Arsenal currently sits fifth on 29 points, within easy striking distance of Chelsea and Spurs, tied for third on 31.
Meanwhile, Man City’s lead at the top of the table has been whittled to two points (38 vs. 36) over Man United after the Blues lost at Chelsea 2-1 last Monday.
Interestingly, Arsenal is the side in this matchup that has safely advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League, with City eliminated in group play. Roberto Mancini’s squad will continue its European adventure in the Europa League after New Year’s.
Arsenal’s climb up the EPL table has been largely due to the goal-scoring exploits of Dutch striker Robin Van Persie, who has been banging home goals at a Cristiano Ronaldo-like clip over the past two months. At 15 goals already, Van Persie has emerged as the most lethal strike force in the EPL.
Manager Arsene Wenger, however, would like to provide more scoring help for the Dutch hit man and will be scouring the available talent in the fast-approaching winter transfer, where we’re sure he will take a look at Lille’s Moussa Sow, among others.
This should be no time for panic at the Eastlands, however, as the rich attacking resources at Mancini’s disposal are likely to explode at any moment. Still with the best-balanced strike force in England, Man City attacks in numbers with Spaniard David Silva pulling the strings from midfield, and scoring options Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, and Mario Balotelli forming any number of potent combinations on the frontline.
It would seem as if Van Persie might need some help to outscore the Man City strike force, although Arsenal has proven it can win on the road this term, as the late October 5-3 win at Chelsea would suggest.