PSG: the challenge

Historically speaking, the Girondins have always had the upper hand in the old rivalry between Bordeaux and Paris: 24 victories for Bordeaux, compared with 13 for PSG and 11 draws. Nevertheless, since the arrival of PSG's megabucks investors, things have changed. Bordeaux have won just one of their last 19 games against the Parisians, with 7 draws and 11 defeats. That solitary victory came in March 2015 in a 3-2 thriller at Stade Chaban-Delmas. Over the past nine years, the Girondins have conceded at least one goal every time PSG have visited Bordeaux (14 in total).

The Parisians are currently on a roll, putting in the kind of solid performances required to keep up their title defence. PSG have won four of their last five league games, keeping clean sheets in three of those matches. They owe much of that success to the quality of their attacking forces, firing in at least two goals in four of the past five games. Paris score an average of 2.5 goals per game when Kylian Mbappé is on the field, an average which falls to 1.4 when the French wizard is absent. On away form alone, PSG would be third in the league. Meanwhile, the Girondins are the ninth best team at home. Bordeaux have also been struggling for form of late, losing five of their past six outings. This is the club's longest winless run since September-October 2017 (seven games without a victory).

Some big names will be missing for the Parisians: neither Neymar (injured) nor Mbappé (suspended) will be making the trip. Yacine Adli and Loris Benito, on the other hand, are both back from suspension and will be available for Bordeaux.   If they are to pull themselves out of their current slump, and make a bold statement against a top-class team on ebullient form, then the Girondins will need to play out of their skins this Wednesday evening.