Sunday’s Ligue 1 conflict between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, the 2 golf equipment who’ve taken turns dominating French soccer to date this century, pits the stuttering reigning champions in opposition to opponents who’ve hit a wealthy vein of kind. PSG head into the ultimate spherical of Ligue 1 video games this calendar yr unbeaten domestically and with a five-point lead from nearest challengers Marseille and Monaco on the high of the desk. However, they’ve struggled to persuade not too long ago and have been held to attracts of their final two home outings, in opposition to Nantes and Auxerre.
At least they breathed life into their faltering Champions League marketing campaign in midweek, a 3-0 win at Red Bull Salzburg calming fears that they may not make the knockout section of Europe’s elite membership competitors.
Even then, coach Luis Enrique prompt his staff had performed higher in earlier video games in opposition to PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid, neither of which they gained.
“To be trustworthy we did not play higher than we did in opposition to PSV or Atletico. We have been worse, however that is soccer,” mentioned the Spaniard.
All is way from rosy on the Parc des Princes, amid latest reviews within the French media of a rift rising between the coach and sure gamers.
Their finest performer this season has been younger winger Bradley Barcola, who has scored 10 targets, however he has gone off the boil currently and can hope to seek out kind once more as he comes up in opposition to the membership he left final yr.
Lyon, who gained seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles within the first decade of this century, have typically been a thorn in PSG’s facet even when they’ve gained simply one of many final eight conferences of the golf equipment.
Afer stumbling within the early weeks of this marketing campaign, they appear in very good form simply now, on a run of 9 video games unbeaten and only one loss in 15 altogether.
They have gained their final 4 matches and scored no less than three targets in every of them, together with an entertaining 3-2 victory in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt within the Europa League on Thursday.
That recreation, by which Rayan Cherki was excellent, noticed Lyon safe a spot within the knockout section play-offs of the Europa League no less than.
Domestically, in the meantime, they’re presently fifth and could be simply six factors behind PSG with a victory within the capital. They can’t be written off proper now.
Player to observe: Rayan Cherki
The 21-year-old was a switch goal for PSG over the last shut season however ended up staying at Lyon the place he’s now taking part in one of the best soccer of his profession.
The gifted winger or attacking midfielder could but depart Lyon in January resulting from his present membership’s want to lift funds within the switch market.
That could be a blow for Lyon coach Pierre Sage, who has seen Cherki rating two targets and arrange three in two video games over the past week. Sage feels his participant deserves to be within the subsequent France squad.
“I feel in the present day Rayan is being watched and is into consideration,” he mentioned of a participant who featured sparingly within the France facet that gained Olympic silver.
“His expertise on the Olympics was not very optimistic however now he has different arguments in his favour and, if he will get a call-up, he’ll deserve it.”
Key stats
8 – Brest are having fun with a heroic marketing campaign within the Champions League however have misplaced eight instances in Ligue 1 this season — that’s yet one more defeat than in all the final marketing campaign.
15 – Also doing effectively within the Champions League, Lille are unbeaten in 15 video games earlier than Saturday’s conflict with Marseille.
6 – PSG have misplaced six instances to Lyon in Ligue 1 for the reason that transformative takeover of the membership by Qatar in 2011. Only Rennes (7) have recorded extra wins in opposition to Paris in that point.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
