LOSC Lille will take on defending champions PSG at Stade Pierre Mauroy this weekend.
LOSC Lille will aim to snap a two-match Ligue 1 losing streak and pull off a rare triumph over Paris Saint-Germain when the two sides meet at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Sunday evening.
A narrow 1-0 defeat to Lyon last weekend saw Les Dogues drop to sixth in the table after six games, while reigning champions PSG remain top on goal difference following their 2-0 victory against Auxerre.
After a blistering start to the season, Lille have suddenly lost their rhythm in front of goal. Bruno Genesio’s side netted 13 times across their opening four Ligue 1 matches but have since failed to score in back-to-back league fixtures, their longest goalless stretch since May 2023.
If they fail to find the net again this weekend, it would mark their first three-match scoreless run in the competition since 2017. The defeat to Lyon also ended a remarkable 60-game scoring streak at home, underlining the extent of their current struggles in the final third.
Lille have found the net just three times at Stade Pierre-Mauroy this season, although their record remains strong when they do score freely, the club has won nine straight Ligue 1 home matches when scoring two or more goals.
Despite a turbulent few weeks that included a Le Classique loss to Marseille and several key injuries, Paris Saint-Germain appear to be rediscovering their dominance under Luis Enrique. The Parisians followed up their setback in the league with a dramatic 2-1 Champions League win over Barcelona, showing grit and attacking precision in the process.
A minor concern for PSG is their away form. Defeat on Sunday would mark consecutive Ligue 1 losses on the road for the first time since January 2023. However, their defensive solidity has been excellent, keeping four clean sheets in six league matches, second only to Lyon’s tally across Europe’s top five leagues.
Luis Enrique’s men have also enjoyed recent success against Lille, winning each of the last three encounters and remaining unbeaten in six of their previous seven visits to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
LOSC Lille
Lille are still managing several injury concerns ahead of their clash with PSG. Central defender Alexsandro Ribeiro remains sidelined with a muscle injury that ruled him out against Lyon last weekend.
Young defender Ousmane Toure continues his rehabilitation from a long-term cruciate ligament injury and will not be available for selection. Meanwhile, backup goalkeeper Marc-Aurele Caillard is nursing an elbow problem and is not expected to return in time for the weekend fixture.
Head coach Bruno Genesio will likely make minimal changes to the side that claimed a narrow Europa League win over Roma on Thursday night. That game was decided by Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s early strike, with goalkeeper Berke Ozer producing an outstanding display to keep a clean sheet.
In terms of formation, Lille are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 setup against PSG. Berke Ozer should retain his place between the posts, shielded by a back four of Thomas Meunier at right-back, Nathan Ngoy and Aissa Mandi as the central defensive pairing, and Calvin Verdonk on the left.
The midfield double pivot will likely consist of captain Benjamin Andre and youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi, tasked with controlling possession and breaking up PSG’s rhythm. Further forward, Felix Correia will provide creativity from the right flank, with Hakon Arnar Haraldsson operating centrally as the attacking midfielder following his European heroics.
Osame Sahraoui should feature on the left wing, supporting veteran striker Olivier Giroud, who will once again lead the line for Lille and look to use his aerial prowess and link-up play to trouble PSG’s defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ozer; Meunier, Ngoy, Mandi, Verdonk; Andre, Bouaddi; Correia, Haraldsson, Sahraoui; Giroud
PSG
PSG are facing a series of injury concerns ahead of their trip to Lille, with several key figures unavailable for selection. Ousmane Dembele, fresh from winning the Ballon d’Or, is set to miss the encounter due to a hamstring strain. Midfielder Joao Neves continues to struggle with a similar issue, while promising youngster Desire Doue is unlikely to feature because of a calf problem.
Captain Marquinhos remains sidelined with a leg injury that has kept him out of action for much of October, while star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia missed PSG’s Champions League win in midweek with a suspected thigh problem. Luis Enrique may therefore need to shuffle his pack to maintain both balance and attacking fluidity.
In their recent 2-0 victory against Auxerre, Illia Zabarnyi and Lucas Beraldo were both on the scoresheet, anchoring a disciplined defensive performance. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, formerly of Lille, registered his fourth Ligue 1 clean sheet of the campaign, cementing his status as one of the league’s top-performing shot-stoppers.
PSG are expected to line up in their familiar 4-3-3 formation against Lille, emphasising control in midfield and width in attack. Lucas Chevalier will start in goal, with Achraf Hakimi and Theo Hernandez operating as the full-backs, providing both defensive cover and attacking thrust from wide areas. In central defence, Illia Zabarnyi will partner Lucas Beraldo, forming a young but commanding pairing.
In midfield, Lee Kang-in, Vitinha, and Senny Mayulu are likely to form the central trio, offering a mix of creativity, pressing, and composure on the ball. Up front, Ibrahim Mbaye could start on the right wing, Goncalo Ramos will spearhead the PSG attack as the central striker, and Bradley Barcola should take up the left flank, tasked with stretching the Lille defence and linking up with the full-backs in transition.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Chevalier; Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Beraldo, Hernandez; Kang-in, Vitinha, Mayulu; Mbaye, Ramos, Barcola
Key Stats
-
Lille have won just one of their last 13 home Ligue 1 matches against PSG, with their sole victory coming in April 2019 (5-1), a result that still stands as PSG’s biggest top-flight defeat of the 21st century.
-
Lille have failed to score in consecutive Ligue 1 games for the first time since May 2023, and another blank would mark their first three-game goalless run in the competition since September 2017.
-
Paris Saint-Germain have kept four clean sheets in six Ligue 1 matches this season, matching their total from the previous 24 top-flight fixtures combined. Only Lyon (five) have managed more clean sheets across Europe’s top five leagues.
-
The 1-0 defeat to Lyon ended Lille’s impressive streak of 60 consecutive home games in all competitions where they had scored at least once. They have not gone back-to-back home matches without scoring in a single season since November 2019.
-
Despite losing to Marseille in their last away fixture, PSG have not suffered consecutive Ligue 1 away defeats since January 2023. Additionally, the champions have not gone two away games in a row without scoring in the league since March 2022, during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
All eyes will be on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian winger who has quickly become one of Paris Saint-Germain’s most creative and unpredictable attacking weapons. Even though he missed the midweek Champions League clash due to a suspected thigh issue, the 24-year-old remains integral to Luis Enrique’s setup and could make a decisive return against Lille.
Known for his mesmerising dribbling, tight ball control, and sudden bursts of acceleration, Kvaratskhelia has the ability to turn defenders inside out and unlock compact defensive lines, a skill PSG may need against a Lille side that tends to sit deep at home. His directness in attack, coupled with his growing understanding with Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola, makes him one of the most dangerous wide players in Europe right now.
If fully fit, Kvaratskhelia’s combination of flair and final-third intelligence could be the difference-maker for PSG against Lille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. His knack for cutting inside onto his right foot and producing either a shot or a clever through ball gives Luis Enrique’s side an added dimension that Lille will find difficult to contain. Even if it is off the bench, he could prove to be a gamechanger for the visitors.
Prediction
LOSC Lille 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Despite Lille’s strong home record in recent seasons, their current lack of goals and confidence makes this an uphill battle against a PSG side that appears to be growing in rhythm under Luis Enrique. The Parisians have kept four clean sheets in six league games this season and boast far greater attacking quality, even with a few key injuries.
Lille’s creativity has noticeably dipped in recent weeks, and the absence of Alexsandro and Marc-Aurele Caillard weakens both their defensive depth and attacking transitions. Meanwhile, PSG’s depth allows them to rotate without losing momentum, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Goncalo Ramos capable of exploiting Lille’s high defensive line.
Expect PSG to control possession, limit Lille’s counterattacks, and punish them through moments of individual brilliance in the final third. A composed, professional performance should see the champions extend their lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
