Paris v. Lens: the wind in their sails

A LOOK AT THE TABLE

Despite getting their league season underway in perfect fashion with wins over Angers and Brest, Les Sang et Or then registered five consecutive draws against a handful of their top-half competitors, namely Monaco, Lyon, Rennes, Nice and Strasbourg. More recently, the northerners have got back to winning ways with a disciplined, 2-0 victory away to AS Saint-Étienne before losing by the same scoreline to rivals LOSC last weekend, when a late double brought about a first defeat of the Ligue 1 season for RCL, who nonetheless remain fifth in the table with 14 points.

Meanwhile, things couldn't have gone much better for Paris Saint-Germain away to Marseille last weekend – just a few days after Les Rouge et Bleu’s own return to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over Strasbourg in the league – as they struck a key blow by sailing through Le Classique and beating their biggest rivals 3-0. Following AS Monaco's defeat away to OGC Nice earlier that day, Les Parisiens' remarkable win meant that they strengthened their position at the top of the table by opening up a three-point lead over second-placed Monaco and a six-point lead over third-placed OM.

THE TWO TEAMS' current FORM IN NUMBERS

THE OPPOSITION'S STRENGTHS

Will Still mainly sets his side up in a 5-3-2 formation. In goal, France international Brice Samba is still one of the first names on the team sheet for his side, while Les Sang et Or's captain will almost certainly be able to rely on the sturdy Kevin Danso and the promising Abdukodir Khusanov ahead of him, particularly after the latter's strong performances so far this season. In the absence of Argentina international Facundo Medina, the third and final centre-back spot should be filled by either Malang Sarr or Jonathan Gradit, although the latter appears to be the slight favourite in this respect.

At right-back, the injuries to Ruben Aguilar and to Jimmy Cabot as well as the uncertainty surrounding the presence of the indispensable Przemysław Frankowski tomorrow afternoon are likely to make life difficult for the Lens coaching staff. If the Poland international were to have to pull out of the fixture, his replacement could come in the form of Tom Pouilly, who is more used to playing as a defensive midfielder but is capable of helping out on the right wing. On the opposite side, Jhoanner Chávez seems to be slightly above Deiver Machado in the Lens pecking order, although the possibility of seeing both left-footed players line up at kick-off to make up for the lack of a right-back isn't completely out of the question.

In midfield, the duo of Adrien Thomasson and Andy Diouf has stood out the most prominently in recent times, although the latter remains doubtful after experiencing some foot discomfort. If that doubt is still there tomorrow, Morocco under-21 international Neil El Aynaoui will be more likely to start than Nampalys Mendy, while Anass Zaroury is expected to compete with David Pereira da Costa for a spot in the playmaker position, which has been left vacant by Angelo Fulgini after he picked up a hamstring injury.

The northern outfit are having to contend with injuries in attack, too, as both Wesley Saïd and Martín Satriano have been ruled out of tomorrow's game. Les Lensois have options in the centre-forward position, however, where it should come as no surprise to see Florian Sotoca line up alongside M'Bala Nzola, while 21-year-old Lens academy graduate Rémy Labeau Lascary may also make an appearance midway through the game against Les Parisiens.