After their 0-0 draw with Lille, Paris Saint-Germain are back under scrutiny. More specifically, Antoine Kombouare is under scrutiny. It doesn’t get a whole lot easier for his side, as they travel away to St. Etienne during the last set of fixtures before the winter break. If PSG fail to win, Kombouare might not make it to the next fixture. Enter Rafa Benitez, who will ball so hard, the LFP wanna fine him. That ish cray.
Ligue 1 2011, Week 19 Preview And Fixtures: Paris Saint-Germain Faces Test As Rafa Benitez Watches The Throne
Rafael Benitez, the villian! He’s just sitting, waiting to snatch the job from the protagonist, Antoine Kombouare. Will our hero prevail?!? Find out when PSG play St. Etienne on Wednesday.
AS Nancy vs. Marseille
Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. ET, 9:00 p.m. CET
Nancy actually haven’t lost in their last two games. They’re so adorable!
Pick: 2-0 Marseille
Auxerre vs. Dijon
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CET
Both of these teams sit just one point ahead of the drop zone in France’s crazy relegation race. Nine teams look set to fight it out to avoid two spots all year. Auxerre is solid at home and has a much better goal differential, so throw your money on them, degenerate gamblers!
Pick: 1-0 Auxerre
Evian vs. Montpellier
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CET
Oh, poor Evian.
Pick: 2-0 Montpellier
Lille vs. Nice
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CET
Looking at these teams’ relative positions in the table, this result might seem like an obvious one. Don’t jump to too many conclusions, though. Nice has a goal differential of just -2 despite their 18th place position. Lille should be able to pick up the three points at home, but Nice are not as bad as their record indicates.
Pick: 1-0 Lille
Lorient vs. Caen
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CET
Basically this is just worth watching for the sweet kits.
Pick: 0-0 draw
Sochaux vs. AC Ajaccio
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CET
Marvin Martin against the worst team in France. There is a deity up in the sky, and he has it out for Memo Ochoa. The good news for them is that Sochaux isn’t actually very good, but I have a weird feeling that this one is going to get ugly anyway.
Pick: 3-1 Sochaux
Stade Rennes vs. Bordeaux
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CET
On talent and standing in the table, these teams are extremely close. On form, they’re not very close at all. Bordeaux appears to be finding their stride, while Rennes is struggling a bit. Yann M’Vila and company are in serious need of a home victory. This one smells like a draw, however.
Pick: 1-1 draw
Toulouse vs. Brest
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CET
Through 18 games, Brest has ELEVEN draws. That’s one way to stay up in the top flight! They’ll struggle with Toulouse’s superb center of midfield in this one, however.
Pick: 1-0 Toulouse
Valenciennes vs. Lyon
Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET, 7:00 p.m. CET
In Ligue 1’s current four-way title race, Lyon simply can’t afford to drop points in fixtures like this. They will avoid doing so here, but make it much more dramatic than it needs to be. Valenciennes have only lost once and conceded four goals at home this season.
Pick: 2-1 Lyon
St. Etienne vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. ET, 9:00 p.m. CET
St. Etienne is fifth in Ligue 1 and has only lost once at home, while many believe that Antoine Kombouare needs a win to save his job. This sounds like the beginning of a really bad sports movie. And isn’t Rafa Benitez just the perfect sports movie villain? This is excellent. Kombouare will have his job dramatically saved by a Nene stoppage time winner.
Pick: 1-0 PSG.
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