PSG Gear Up for Chelsea Encounter by Facing Monaco Again

Paris Saint-Germain are getting ready for their Champions League knockout stage match against Chelsea by playing Monaco once more on Friday, with manager Luis Enrique expressing excitement for "the most thrilling phase of the campaign" getting underway.

PSG have struggled to recapture the sparkling performance that brought them Champions League success for the first time ever in the previous campaign, yet they enter March still aiming to hold onto their domestic and continental crowns.

Chelsea head to the Parc des Princes on the following Wednesday for the opening leg of their round of sixteen clash in Europe, marking the teams first encounter since the previous Julys Club World Cup final where PSG suffered a 3-0 defeat.

Luis Enriques team advanced to the Champions League last sixteen via a tense 5-4 aggregate victory against Monaco in last months playoff, and now they face the Monaco outfit in Ligue 1 for the third time within two and a half weeks.

Although they have not often hit their smooth stride and have missed last years Ballon dOr recipient Ousmane Dembele for significant portions of the season because of injury, PSG arrive for Fridays fixture leading Lens by four points at the summit of the French standings.

A 1-0 victory on the road versus Le Havre during the previous weekend extended their run to nine triumphs in the last ten Ligue 1 outings, whereas Lens have faltered by earning just one point from their most recent two fixtures.

"The most exciting stretch of the season is starting. We are eager for it," Luis Enrique shared with journalists on Thursday.

"Monaco competed in the Champions League, so this match will feel like one," the Spanish coach continued.

"We have faced numerous challenges in the league and recognise the toughness of the Champions League, yet we are pleased with our current standing."

Dembele Returns

The clashes with Chelsea represent PSG fifth and sixth games against English Premier League teams since the start of the prior season.

Dembele appears likely to participate in those fixtures after being included in the lineup for the Monaco game, as he has only started 14 out of his teams 39 matches so far this term.

"It is always positive when a player returns," the manager commented regarding Dembele, who joined full team training on Wednesday and Thursday.

That said, midfield pair Joao Neves with an ankle issue and Fabian Ruiz dealing with a knee problem will miss the Monaco match, and their availability against Chelsea is uncertain.

Monaco, who overcame PSG on their home turf in the league back in November, are pushing for a spot in Europe and sit seventh in the table going into the weekend, trailing Lille in fifth by three points, a position that secures Europa League football.

Player to watch: Joaquin Panichelli

The Argentine forward persists in his bid to earn a berth in his nations World Cup team after netting in each of Strasbourgs previous four outings across all tournaments.

Three of those strikes came from the penalty spot, one being in Tuesdays 2-1 French Cup quarterfinal triumph against Reims.

At 23 years old, Panichelli has tallied 17 goals in all competitions during his initial campaign with Strasbourg, who travel to Auxerre on Saturday. Argentina have a Finalissima fixture against Spain scheduled later this month, pitting the winners of Europe and South America in a single showdown.

Key stats

100 - Fridays fixture marks the 100th elite division clash between PSG and Monaco. The Monaco sides USA international Folarin Balogun is poised for his 100th Ligue 1 outing.

23 - Toulouse remain without a league victory in their past 23 encounters with Marseille.

12 - Rock bottom Metz head to Lens after claiming success in the latest head to head, but they are on a 12 game winless streak in Ligue 1.

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Paris Saint-Germain v Monaco (1945)

Saturday

Nantes v Angers (1600), Auxerre v Strasbourg (1800), Toulouse v Marseille (2005)

Sunday

Lens v Metz (1400), Brest v Le Havre, Lille v Lorient, Nice v Rennes (all 1615), Lyon v Paris FC (1945)