PSG brace for Strasbourg test as Luis Enrique demands focus

Enrique said he expects a tough battle against one of the league's most energetic sides. "I think Strasbourg are one of the best teams in the league," he said on Thursday. "They have a lot of young players, a very good manager, and they play some great football.

"Every match after an international break is difficult, and we know how strong they are. We must be ready to face real adversity."

PSG lead the Ligue 1 table by just one point ahead of Marseille, Strasbourg, and Lyon. The French champions went into the break after a 1-1 draw at Lille, and Enrique has stressed the importance of maintaining control in every match.

"We've implemented our idea of dominating games," he explained. "But our opponents adapt quickly, so we need to find the right solutions to keep improving."

There was positive news for PSG as captain Marquinhos and forward Desire Doue returned from injury. However, Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele remains sidelined. "We hope the number of injuries won't ever be this high again," Enrique added. "But in football, you can never know what's coming. We're preparing properly to handle everything."

Strasbourg, managed by Liam Rosenior, travel to Paris chasing their first-ever victory at the Parc des Princes. Since their first top-flight meeting in 1975, Racing have drawn seven and lost 27 of their visits.

Rosenior remains optimistic. "I tell my players they can win any match," he said. "If we don't believe in ourselves, we're bound to lose. It doesn't matter that Racing have never won in Paris, what matters is how we perform. PSG are the best team in the world, and we want to show who we are."

Elsewhere in Ligue 1 this weekend, Lyon visit Nice, Marseille host Le Havre, and Monaco begin life under new coach Sebastien Pocognoli against Angers. The Belgian, who led Union Saint-Gilloise to a historic league title last season, replaced Adi Hutter on a two-year deal.