Lyon – PSG Match Preview
The most important match of the weekend in France will be played at the Stade Gerland, where PSG have only won once since the 2004/2005 season. Les Parisiens reached the league cup final in midweek following their third consecutive 1-0 win, with Marquinhos proving to be much more reliable than Grégory Van der Wiel at right-back. Laurent Blanc’s men are less impressive than last season, but are still competing in all four competitions they were hoping to be, which will keep them active in the following weeks. Without Alexandre Lacazette up front for the first time of the season, l’Olympique Lyonnais failed to score against Monaco in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at the Stade Louis II. Lyon sit 2 points above their title rivals before this crucial match and will want to avoid defeat, something they are familiar with as the have lost in their last 8 league matches. Milan Bisevac will not take part in the clash against his former club due to a knee injury the centre-back picked up against Monaco, which ended his season and as mentioned before neither will Alexandre Lacazette, who is expected to return in two weeks against Nantes. Hubert Fournier will have to rely on Lindsay Rose at the back, while Clintone Njie is expected to partner Nabil Fekir up front. Left-back Henri Bedimo will resume his starting spot after returning from AFCON duty at the expense of the suspended Mouhamadou Dabo.
PSG are now on a 6-game winning streak in all competitions and cannot afford to let Lyon run away with the lead and so this match should be a close one. Blanc will be without Serge Aurier and possibly Grégory Van der Wiel, so Marquinhos is likely to start at right back again in defence. Javier Pastore missed Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Lille in the league cup due to a calf injury and may have to sit this one out whilst Lucas Moura and Ezequiel Lavezzi compete for a starting spot on the wings, but the former seems to be ahead of the Argentine in Laurent Blanc’s mind. PSG are unlikely to make wholesale chances on Sunday and the fans may expect their side to start in their usual 4-3-3 formation.
Our Probable Formations:
Lyon (4.3.1.2) Lopes, Jallet, Rose, Umtiti, Bedimo, Ferri, Gonalons, Tolisso, Ghezzal, Fekir and N’Jie.
PSG (4.3.3) Sirigu, Marquinhos, Silva, Luiz, Maxwell, Verratti, Motta, Matuidi, Moura, Ibrahimovic and Cavani.
BetAdvisor Top Tips:
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Lyon’s last 3 games in Ligue 1.
Lyon have been winning at both half time and full time in 7 of their last 9 home matches in Ligue 1.
Lyon have scored at least 2 goals in 9 of their last 10 home matches in Ligue 1
Lyon have kept a clean sheet in their last 6 matches in Ligue 1.
Lyon have won their last 10 home matches in Ligue 1.
PSG are undefeated in 23 of their last 25 matches in Ligue 1.