Strasbourg vs. PSG (French Ligue 1): Back PSG to bag three points on the road

A 10-match fixture list from the top tier of French soccer begins on Friday when Strasbourg host PSG. The hosts will be backed by the majority of fans inside the stadium as they aim to deliver a smash and grab on the top five, securing a place in next season’s Europa League.

To increase their chances of achieving that, they must collect the three points available that would lift them from sixth place to fourth in Ligue 1.

That’s achievable, and as any experienced follower of European soccer will verify, anything can happen in this competition.

It’s much easier said than done when playing an opponent that sits on top of the division with a 13-point cushion over the chasing pack. PSG are the most successful club in French football and have already won the title.

Will the Parisians continue their drive, remaining professional and aiming to pick up as many league wins as possible between now and the finish line or having already been crowned champions for the 10thtime, will they have one eye on the summer break?

Strasbourg vs. PSG Betting Odds and Match Information

Match Information

• Matchup: Strasbourg (15W-11D-8L, 56 points, 6th in Ligue 1) vs. PSG (24W-6D-4L, 78 points, 1st in Ligue 1)
• Venue & Location: Stade de la Meinau (Strasbourg, France)
• Date: Friday, April 29, 2022
• Time: 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time (9:00 p.m. Strasbourg time)

Strasbourg vs. PSG Match Odds

Odds are via Bovada Sportsbook.

Moneyline

• Strasbourg to win: +275
• Draw: +265
• PSG to win: -104

Over/Under

• OVER 2.5 Goals (-145)
• UNDER 2.5 Goals (+115)

A clue on what to expect in this fixture

We will get an idea of how much ambition PSG have from this road trip, but there’s little reason to doubt their motives. It’s conceivable that manager Mauricio Pochettino may rest a few of his usual stars, handing some much-needed game time to squad players. That’s what makes soccer at this time of year so interesting.

When making predictions on matches just a few weeks ago, bettors can take their lead from the form, head-to-head stats and any injury news. But in the later games of the campaign, when a team has already won the title, it becomes less predictable.

We are forced to predict not only the outcome of the game but how both teams will line up and the hunger they have to continue giving their best when there’s little to play for.

That is only the case for PSG. Across the field of play, we have a Strasbourg team that knows only victory will do.

The home team have 56 points on the board following 15 wins, 11 draws and eight defeats, scoring 55 goals and conceding 36. They bring the curtain up on round 35 of the season, three points behind third-placed Rennes but with 20 fewer goals.

A top-three finish and place in next season’s Champions League remains a possibility, but the clock is against them, making this a must-win game.

They could finish as high as third on the ladder, but Strasbourg could sink as low as eighth. Lyon are in eighth place at present and sit just four points behind Strasbourg. The outcome of this match could decide if the home team enjoy the luxury of playing in Europe come September or if they slip into the no man’s land of midtable.

PSG won 4-2 in Paris

Friday’s match will be the second meeting of these teams this season following August’s Ligue 1 match in Paris when PSG won at a canter. The scoreboard at the end of play read PSG 4-2 Strasbourg, reflecting the winning team’s dominance.

It may have been the first month of the season, but the Parisians looked like the favourites to win the title even then.

They moved into an early lead thanks to a goal from Icardi that was scored inside the opening three minutes of play. Strasbourg’s Ajorque then had the ball in the net on 25 minutes, but it was at the wrong end, giving PSG a 2-0 lead, and they hit the gas from there.

Draxler got a third before Sarabia finished the scoring near the end. The two goals for the beaten team on that occasion came from Ajorque – this time at the correct end – and Gameiro, but the result was never in doubt.

Sticking with past meetings involving the sides, we work through the head to head stats, discovering PSG have won each of their last four meetings with Strasbourg and have scored exactly four goals in the three most recent games.

We must go back to December 2017 to find the most recent win for Strasbourg in this fixture which is a run of 10 games.

Mixed bag of recent results for Strasbourg

We find a mixed bag of results working through the home team’s last five league matches. They have won two, drawn two and lost one during that period, although the spare defeat did come in their most recent game.

That loss was inflicted by Lille last Sunday, with the match ending 1-0. Zeki Celik scored the winning goal for Lille in the final three minutes of play. It was a late sucker punch for Strasbourg as the players lost their concentration near the end.

Could that late collapse come back to haunt them, costing the home team the riches accompanying European football? There’s every chance.

Two points dropped

PSG are unbeaten in their last five league starts but did drop two points a week ago. Their form shows four wins followed by a draw at home to Lens in a match they were expected to win.

Former Barcelona star Messi scored the opener on 68 minutes after Lens had Danso sent off for a second bookable offence, but they refused to roll over. Jean found the net on 88 minutes to stun PSG fans, who reacted angrily, despite wrapping up their 10th league title.

Upset by the club’s Champions League exit at the hands of Spanish side Real Madrid, fans left before the end of the match to celebrate the league title win outside of the stadium, clear of the players, coaches and the board.

That was a protest that left those in the stadium feeling underwhelmed, but it’s something Pochettino says the club must respect.

They may have nothing to play for between now and the end of the season with the league title already in their possession, but the manner of their victory over Strasbourg earlier in the season gives backers confidence. We’re on a repeat performance and will back both teams to score in a PSG away win.

Strasbourg vs. PSG Betting Tip: PSG win & both teams to score (+250 at Bovada Sportsbook)