Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images. Pictured: Kylian Mbappe.
PSG vs. Strasbourg Odds
| PSG Odds | -550 |
| Strasbourg Odds | +1100 |
| Draw | +600 |
| Over/Under | 3.5 (+112 / -136) |
| Day | Time | Saturday | 3 p.m. ET |
| How To Watch | beIN SPORTS | fuboTV |
| Odds updated Friday afternoon via FanDuel. | |
Unlike most leagues in Europe, Ligue 1 already has a week under its belt. Paris Saint-Germain and Strasbourg will face off in Matchweek 2 on Saturday afternoon.
PSG will not have Lionel Messi quite yet, although the Argentine superstar reportedly wanted to be involved with the team for this game. Neymar is back in training with the Parisians, although his availability is unknown.
We know Kylian Mbappe will be out there, likely alongside Mauro Icardi to lead the PSG frontline, which only scored twice in a 2-1 win away to Troyes last week.
Strasbourg, meanwhile, are bottom after the first week and might want to get comfortable down there. They were thoroughly outplayed in a 2-0 defeat to Angers.
Let’s break down how bettors can profit off of soccer’s version of the Harlem Globetrotters this week.
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PSG Not Short on Starpower Without
PSG have perennially been slow starters in Ligue 1, mostly because Neymar really enjoys his vacations.
Last week looked like a potential disaster for Mauricio Pochettino’s team. They went down 1-0 in the ninth minute to Troyes, before their starpower kicked in.
Achraf Hakimi scored on his PSG debut, and Icardi gave them the lead two minutes later with Mbappe on the assist.
PSG registered 1.49 expected goals (xG) and conceded 0.62, which is a comfortable win that leaves a lot of room for improvement.
Chance creation will improve, obviously, as Messi and Neymar are brought into the team. It wouldn’t shock me if Pocchetino tries to fit a player like Ángel Di María in there, as well.
When Marquinhos is fit, he’ll take his place alongside Presnel Kimpembe in the center of defense. Sergio Ramos is not going to be fit for this game, which means Thilo Kehrer is likely to partner Kimpembe. It’ll be interesting to see how Marquinhos, Kimpembe and Ramos all fit into the team when they’re all fit and available for selection.
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Strasbourg Hope to Avoid Relegation Battle
Strasbourg might be a team that bettors could look to back as a big underdog this season, although their opening-week performance left a lot to be desired.
Last season, they were unlucky to finish 15th in Ligue 1. They had a -9 goal difference and were in a relegation battle down the stretch, although their non-penalty expected goal difference was -0.73, which was the eighth-best number in the league.
In Matchweek 1, though, Strasbourg were thoroughly overmatched by Angers, which isn’t great. Angers was 13th last season with a -18 goal difference, and they beat Strasbourg 2-0 to open their season.
The numbers say that scoreline doesn’t lie, as Angers won the xG battle 1.42-0.27 over Strasbourg. Not a good start to the season for a Strasbourg team that is just hoping to maintain its top-flight status.
Top goalscorers Ludovic Ajorque (16) and Habib Diallo (nine) return, although manager Thierry Laurey does not. Laurey left the club at the end of last season, having taken them from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1.
Former Rennes manager Julien Stéphan took Laurey’s place, and obviously his tenure did not start ideally.
Betting Analysis & Pick
Last season, PSG was the best first-half team in Ligue 1, going into halftime ahead in 24 of their 38 games and scoring 40 times before the interval, only conceding eight. Strasbourg weren’t too shabby themselves, ranking seventh.
I’m going to back the home team here, though. PSG actually took more points away from the Parc des Princes last season than they did in Paris, but the buzz of signing Messi will no doubt be felt throughout the stadium.
The first-half PSG moneyline doesn’t do much for me, but PSG +1 is +100 at FanDuel. We’ll roll with that for what will be a celebratory Saturday evening in Paris.
Pick: PSG 1H +1 (+100)
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