PSG vs. Ajaccio: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Aria Murphy
Published Mar 24, 2026
Last weekend, Paris Saint-Germain started their season with a tough 1-0 victory over Lille at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. They had to play with just 10 men for over 60 minutes, but Laurent Blanc’s side had more quality than their opponents to get their opening-day win.
Les Parisians now return to Paris and will be eager to put on a show for their home fans. They will start incredibly heavy favourites against the newly promoted Gazelec Ajaccio, but will be keen to prove that complacency won’t be an issue this term.
It was a shock to everyone in France when Gazelec, with the smallest budget in Ligue 2, won promotion to the top division. Compared to PSG’s €490 million, per ecofoot.fr (in French) the newcomers only have €13.8 million to spend—which is nearly half of fellow promoted side Troyes.
This season is going to be a very tough test for the Islanders. They are not even the biggest club in Ajaccio, nevermind Corsica, but it is to the testament of coach Thierry Laurey and president Olivier Miniconi that the club has managed to come as far as it has.
Their only goal for this season will be to survive.
Date: Sunday, August 16
Kick-Off: 8 p.m. BST, 3 p.m. EDT
TV Listings: BT Sport (UK), beIN Sports (USA)
Live Stream: BT Sport (UK)
| Last Five Games | |
| Ligue 1: Lille 0-1 PSG | Ligue 1: Gazelec 0-0 Troyes |
| TdC: PSG 2-0 Lyon | Friendly: Gazelec 1-1 Cagliari |
| ICC: Manchester United 0-2 PSG | Friendly: Sochaux 0-0 Gazelec |
| ICC: PSG 1-1 Chelsea (5-6 pens) | Friendly: Metz 0-1 Gazelec |
| ICC: PSG 4-2 Fiorentina | Friendly: Gazelec 1-0 ASM Belfort |
| B/R UK | |
After a mixed pre-season, Laurey would have been delighted to get his first point on the opening day of the Ligue 1 season.
There will have been pangs of disappointment when Mohamed Larbi missed a penalty late in the first half, but in this league, every point counts.
No one is expecting Gazelec to pick up anything away in the country's capital, but it will be a huge test of their defensive organisation and ability to face the league's tougher tests.
PSG continued their good form with a 1-0 win, and nothing less than a victory will be expected on Sunday.
Possible Lineups
Against Troyes, Laurey played 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield. It would be a risky decision to go with the same tactics in the Parc des Princes, so expect either 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1.
New signing Issiar Dia could make his debut. He previously played for AS Nancy in 2011, and would give Gazelec a good outlet down the flanks.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed training again on Wednesday and is still a doubt to miss Sunday’s game. The league also confirmed Adrien Rabiot’s one-game suspension on Thursday, per Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson, ruling him out of the fixture—expect Thiago Motta to take his place from the start.
| Starting XIs | |
| GK: Kevin Trapp | GK: Jules Goda |
| RB: Serge Aurier | RB: Issiaga Sylla |
| CB: Thiago Silva | CB: Alexandre Coeff |
| CB: David Luiz | CB: Pablo Martinez |
| LB: Maxwell | LB: Damjan Djokovic |
| CM: Marco Verratti | DM: Jerome Le Moigne |
| CM: Thiago Motta | DM: David Ducourtioux |
| CM: Blaise Matuidi | RM: Louis Poggi |
| RW: Lucas Moura | AM: Mohamed Larbi |
| LW: Javier Pastore | LM: Kevin Mayi |
| CF: Edinson Cavani | CF: Gregory Pujol |
| B/R UK | |
Players to Watch
Gazelec Ajaccio: Kevin Mayi
As a young forward, Kevin Mayi played his early career at Saint-Etienne, but after only making eight appearances in three seasons and a positive loan spell at Chamois Niortais—the forward made the permanent move to Gazelec in 2014.
Still only 22 years old, he played a huge part in their promotion push, scoring six goals in 28 games. On Sunday, it could be a long night for the visiting forwards, but Mayi could cause problems using his physicality and speed to try and hit on the counter.
With Gregory Pujol likely to play as the lone striker, it will be up to Mayi to push on and support him if the chances present themselves.
Key Battle
Javier Pastore v Jerome Le Moigne
One of Gazelec’s summer recruits, Jerome Le Moigne will play a crucial role on Sunday. Either beside a partner in a 4-2-3-1 or as the deepest midfielder protecting the defence, he will be in charge on monitoring the runs of Javier Pastore.
Le Moigne was RC Lens captain last season and he is a no-nonsense, tough-tackling, experienced professional.
Pastore will drift left and right and will look to create chances wherever he can find space, but Le Moigne will be tasked with keeping tabs on the playmaker and limiting the time and space he is allowed.
Give Pastore the freedom of the Parc des Princes and Gazelec will be onto a losing battle. Guingamp and Lille found out the hard way last season what happens when you sit off and give PSG space—it would be horrible to see one of the Ligue 1 new boys drop four or five goals on their first away trip.
Le Moigne will need to be at his best.
Odds (via Oddschecker)
Gazelec 40/1
