Coupe de France: Pays de Cassel vs Paris Saint-Germain: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head

The Parisien club and the sixth-tier club are meeting for the first time.

On Monday, the sixth-tier Pays de Cassel will face 14-time champion Paris Saint-Germain in a remarkable last-16 fixture in the 2022-23 Coupe de France. The David vs. Goliath showdown will take place at Lens' Stade Bollaert-Delelis, as the Regional 1 minnows attempt the greatest of all giant killers.

Meanwhile, Pays de Cassel, an amateur team created five years ago, is preparing for their greatest encounter yet. The Nord side defeated fourth-tier Wasquehal on penalties in the previous round to set up a meeting with the current Ligue 1 champions. While defeating PSG appears to be an impossible task, the opportunity to play against them is significant for a team of Pays' standing. 

Kick-off: 1:15 am (IST), 7:45 pm (GMT)

Pays de Cassel Coupe de France form: W-W-W

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions): W-L-W-W-L-W

Players to Watch

Paris Saint-Germain

Marquinhos

The PSG captain will be the biggest name on the field in this game. The Brazillian star has been a wall for the team since 2013. The defender has scored 2 goals this season so far in 18 games. He will be responsible for guiding the new young talents that are going to participate in the match.

Pays de Cassel

Alexis Zmijak

The 34-year-old centre defender is one of the best players in the village's team born in Croix and has been a crucial part of the club so far in the French Cup scoring 1 goal in 2 matches. However, the player is yet to create history facing the biggest club in France.

Match Facts

• Since their exit at this level against Marseille in the 2013-14 season, PSG has advanced past the fourth round in seven of the last eight seasons.

• OGC Nice ended the visitors' run of seven consecutive Coupe de France finals in the round of 16 the previous seasons.

• In their last five games across all competitions, PSG has only kept one clean sheet.

• Pays has scored in each of its three French Cup games this season.

Injury and Team news

To stop the Ligue 1 champions, Pays de Cassel will likely play a defensive formation with Romain Samson, 35, as the last line of defence.

After being involved in the betting controversy, former Dunkerque midfielder Nicolas Bruneel, who scored in Pays de Cassel's triumphs against Chaumontois and Drancy, was absent from the match against Wasquehal. Bruneel is serving the second of his two-game suspension and €1,000 (£878) punishment, leaving Kiba Sane to score.

PSG's sole absentees were Nordi Mukiele (hamstring), Marco Verratti (quadriceps), and Lucas Lavallee. Despite strong links to Arsenal, 16-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery should start, but Pays de Cassel's ambitions of facing Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe are doubtful.

Head-to-head stats

It will be the first encounter between the two sides.

Predicted lineup

Pays de Cassel predicted lineup:Samson; Zmijak, Thoor, Leclerc, Dubreucq, Santrain; Leganase, Bogdanski, Boudjema, Rapaille; Sane

Paris Saint-Germain predicted lineup:Rico; Pembele, Marquinhos, Bitshiabu, Bernat; Zaire-Emery, Sanches, Gharbi; Soler; Ekitike, Housni

Match Prediction

Even with a largely rotated team and many youngsters starting on the Stade Bollaert-Delelis pitch, PSG should be able to escape what would be perhaps their most humiliating defeat in history.

Pays de Cassel will no doubt welcome the opportunity to test their mettle against the 14-time champions and will return home with their heads held high, but the sixth-tier team should be limited to damage limitation from the start.

Prediction: Pays de Cassel 0-5 Paris Saint-Germain

Where to watch?

India - DAZNUK - Eurosport app, beIN SportsUSA - fuboTV,Fox SportsNigeria - DAZN