Runaway leaders PSG will host top-four-chasing LOSC Lille in Paris, as the visitors will be under pressure ahead of the weekend.
Luis Enrique has led a successful turnaround to a season deemed slow at the start, as PSG continued their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 this term ahead of the visit of LOSC Lille on Saturday. The Parisians are also on a 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning all but one of those games, with the only blip coming against Stade Reims in a 1-1 draw.
Enrique will continue to focus on the upcoming UEFA Champions League clash next week against Liverpool, which could affect his selection decisions for their weekend game against LOSC Lille. PSG already has an unprecedented 13-point lead at the top of the league.
The closest domestic rivals, Marseille, struggled against Auxerre last weekend and lost 3-0. Meanwhile, PSG secured a rather nervy win in the end against Lyon, as a brace from Achraf Hakimi and one goal from Ousmane Dembele proved enough to collect the points. Enrique will now want some perfect performances from his players, as the upcoming week could be season-defining for PSG.
While PSG continue to run away with the Ligue 1 title, LOSC Lille still have a lot to play for. Bruno Genesio’s men are still chasing a top-four place. Getting back into the Champions League for next season will be a big objective for the club, but Lille also have a clash with Borussia Dortmund to manoeuvre ahead of the upcoming week.
Lille certainly have some momentum heading into this clash following back-to-back wins against Rennes and top-four rivals AS Monaco. A point or a grand win over PSG will be a big bonus for Lille in this hunt to finish in the top four, and a loss might allow Lyon and RC Strasbourg to apply pressure from places down the table.
Team News & Tactics
PSG
Luis Enrique could be in a tricky position to decide whether to rest his best players for the upcoming clash with Liverpool or go with his strongest lineup against Lille. Regardless of their unprecedented position at the summit, the Ligue 1 game remains one of the biggest games of the season.
Enrique did heavily change his setup in midweek for the cup clash with Stade Briochin and might bring his best players to the fore. Goncalo Ramos, despite scoring a hat-trick in that game, may have to contend with a place on the bench, as the PSG manager might prefer to start with a frontline of Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Bradley Barcola against Lille.
This means even Khvicha Kvaratskhelia may have to stay on as a substitute. Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes are expected to return to the defensive line to play alongside Achraf Hakimi and Willian Pacho. Even in midfield, Fabian Ruiz will keep his place alongside Joao Neves as Vitinha returns to the starting eleven.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pacho, Marquinhos, Mendes; Neves, Ruiz, Vitinha; Doue, Dembele, Barcola
LOSC Lille
While PSG do not have a single missing player on their roster, Lille have to contend with key injuries. The news on Edon Zhegrova has rocked the club, with the player informing his desire to quit in the summer. He is out injured alongside Samuel Umtiti, while Remy Cabella is expected to make a swift return to the lineup despite some concerns over his hamstring.
Lille will continue to deploy a 4-2-3-1 shape against PSG, with Bafode Diakite and Alexandro Ribeiro forming the central defensive partnershup. Mitchel Bakker will play the right-back slot, with Gabriel Gudmundsson taking the left-back slot.
Angel Gomes and Benjamin Andre will retain their central defensive berths, while Hakon Haraldsson takes the advanced role in the attacking setup. Cabella and Osame Sahraoui will provide the width in the attacking third, with Lille’s key man and the in-demand Jonathan David, leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Bakker, Diakite, Ribeiro, Gudmundsson; Andre, Gomes; Sahraoui, Heraldsson, Cabella; David
Key Stats
- PSG are undefeated in their last 25 matches in Ligue 1.
- PSG are undefeated in their last 19 games across all competitions, winning 18 of those (D1).
- Paris Saint-Germain have won ten of their last 11 home matches against LOSC Lille in all competitions.
- Lille have conceded three or more goals in five of their last six meetings against PSG.
- Lille have won their last two games in Ligue 1.
Player to Watch
Ousmane Dembele
One might feel that Enrique should rest Dembele ahead of this clash with Lille to keep him fresh for next week’s Liverpool game. However, the manager might think the opposite and make the attacker play an essential part on the weekend.
Dembele is on a hot streak in front of goal since Enrique has played him in a central role. He added to his impressive tally over the last many games with a crucial goal against Lyon. He will want to do the same at the weekend and, more importantly, against Liverpool next week. Only on form, the Frenchman is one of the most in-form stars in Europe, as Enrique will surely want him starting every game.
Prediction
PSG 3-1 LOSC Lille
Lille may have some momentum heading into this clash against PSG in Paris, but they are nowhere close to the kind of form their hosts are in. Bruno Genesio will certainly hope for a positive outcome to this clash at the weekend, although he might be powerless to avoid a defeat.
PSG are likely to be in a mood to stay sharp and positive ahead of their headline clash with Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League next week. Hence, they will likely go all guns blazing against Lille and continue their recent scoring form against this opposition. However, the defence could leak a goal or so in this game. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Luis Enrique and his charges.
