Paris Saint-Germain head to Lyon on Sunday in a bid for three points that could stretch their immense Ligue 1 lead even further. The fallen giants of Les Gones look for a confidence boosting victory and a chance to move up the table!
Two titans of French football experiencing hugely different fortunes in the 2021-22 season, prepare to do battle at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday when Lyon host Paris Saint-Germain.
Les Parisiens currently enjoy a 13 point advantage at the top of the Ligue 1 table, while Peter Bosz’s Lyon are down in 13th, following an inconsistent campaign so far.
Les Gones‘ recent record of one victory from their last six matches in Ligue 1 is truly appalling for a club of Lyon’s stature. However, they have found the back of the net in all of their home games so far this season and have lost just once in that time, so PSG’s task this weekend will not necessarily be easy.
The home side’s forward line has been decimated by AFCON call-ups, with Tino Kadewere, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Islam Slimani representing Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and Algeria respectively.
Rayan Cherki and Xherdan Shaqiri will compete for a place in the attack, while Bruno Guimarães will hope to return to the centre of the park.
Meanwhile, for PSG, Achraf Hakimi, Idrissa Gueye, and Abdou Diallo are away on AFCON duty, while Neymar is still a few weeks away from returning to training, following his serious ankle injury.
Mauricio Pochettino’s visitors have been buoyed by the news that Lionel Messi is now COVID-negative, as well as Sergio Ramos’s return from suspension.
Mauro Icardi could receive a rare start as the striker here, despite persistent rumours of a transfer to another club, while Colin Dagba, Keylor Navas, and Leandro Paredes may also benefit from their side’s COVID outbreak to earn starts.
We suspect that Lyon’s home goalscoring record will come to a halt here, with PSG winning 2-0. Expect Pochettino’s men to find the net in both halves.
Lyon possible starting XI:
Lopes; Lukeba, Boateng, Da Silva; Gusto, Guimarães, Caqueret, Emerson; Shaqiri, Aouar; Dembélé
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting XI:
Navas; Dagba, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Bernat; Wijnaldum, Paredes, Verratti; Messi, Icardi, Mbappé
