The Preview: Paris-Lyon

THE TABLE

Despite having had to make do with a draw against Clermont Foot 63 last time out at the Parc des Princes (0-0), Paris Saint-Germain are still top of the league. With a record of 18 wins, nine draws and just one defeat in Ligue 1 so far this season, Paris have 63 points from 28 games. Les Rouge et Bleu currently hold a ten-point lead over second-placed Brest, who have played a game more, and an 11-point advantage over AS Monaco, who round out the top three.

Olympique Lyonnais, meanwhile, have had a mixed season. After a disastrous first half of the campaign and a long period spent at the bottom of the table, the Lyonnais have bounced back with a string of successes to finally move away from the relegation zone. After toppling Nantes 3-1 a fortnight ago - despite Les Canaris' having opened the scoring - Lyon repeated the feat last week, winning 4-3 in a thrilling encounter with Brest. With a new lease of life, Lyon now sit in seventh place on the table with 41 points from 29 matches.

KEY STATS

This Sunday at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to get back to winning ways in Ligue 1, following in the footsteps of their Champions League success this week. To do so, the capital club can draw inspiration from their own 23-game unbeaten run in the league (16 wins, seven draws), the longest of its kind in the top flight. It is also the longest unbeaten run in a single season for Paris since the first 27 matches of the 2015-2016 season, which ended in a 1-2 defeat to Lyon. Les Rouge et Bleu will be able to rely on their attack, which has been the most prolific in France in the last 15 minutes of Ligue 1 matches so far this season with 17 goals, ahead of Lyon (12).

As for Olympique Lyonnais, they are in sparkling form, having taken the most points in the league in 2024 with 25, just ahead of the Parisians (23). Having won two of their last three away games at the Parc des Princes, Les Lyonnais will be looking to repeat the feat this Sunday against Les Rouge et Bleu, who have won each of their last five away games in Ligue 1 - the longest current run in the top flight. And if Lyon are to cause the capital club any further problems, they will be relying heavily on set-pieces, from which they have a co-league high 15 goals so far this season in Ligue 1, level with Montpellier and... Paris.

OPPOSITION STRENGTHS

Pierre Sage and his team play mainly in a 4-3-3 formation. In goal, Portuguese international Anthony Lopes continues to hold down his starting berth for an incredible eleventh season in a row, with a league save rate of 70.7% since the start of the campaign. In front of him, the revelation Jake O'Brien (four goals and one assist in all competitions this season) has established himself as a rock in central defence. Alongside him, Croatian international Duje Caleta-Car, back after suspension, could be competing with the versatile Clinton Mata to form the central pairing. Accustomed to playing on the right flank, the Angolan international has to contend with the rise of Ainsley Maitland-Niles in that position, as the latter could well be handed another start against the Parisians.

On the opposite flank, Argentina's world champion Nicolás Tagliafico has so far been indispensable, but he will be absent through suspension. Unsurprisingly, Henrique is expected to start in his stead, with Dejan Lovren and Adryelson playing in the centre and 19-year-old Saël Kumbedi used to playing on the right flank. In midfield, the experienced Nemanja Matic already seems to be a unanimous favourite since his arrival at the club this winter. Positioned in front of the defence at the expense of Paul Akouokou and Johann Lepenant, he is almost always accompanied by French U-21 international Maxence Caqueret. And to round out Lyon's midfield, the OL staff seem to favour starting French world champion Corentin Tolisso over Belgian international Orel Mangala.

On the right side of the attack, the lively Ernest Nuamah (two goals, two assists) seems to have the upper hand, but 19-year-old Malick Fofana has also demonstrated his attacking prowess of late and may have sown doubts in the mind of Lyon's coach. On the left flank, on the other hand, the current trend seems to be in favour of Algerian international Saïd Benrahma, who arrived this winter from West Ham. Finally, at the top of the attack, indispensable captain Alexandre Lacazette (18 goals, three assists) is expected to start, even if his ability to do so is still in doubt following his early exit last time out. If he were to start on the bench, then the promising Gift Orban (three goals) would take his place. Meanwhile, wildcards Rayan Cherki (three goals, seven assists) and Mama Baldé (one goal, two assists) can draw on their versatility and come into play in a variety of attacking positions. Unless the former ends up being Pierre Sage's surprise starter...