Potential Season Changing Game in France

This weekends Ligue 1 action finishes with a cracking match at the Groupama Stadium as Lyon host Paris Saint-Germain.

This is arguably the game of the weekend in Europe and the result will have a massive influence on the title race in France this season.

A win for Lyon will ignite the Ligue 1 season and deliver some fresh hope to both Lyon and Marseille that Paris Saint-Germain can still be caught at the top of the table.  However, a win for Paris Saint-Germain will see them maintain at least a 12-point gap at the top of the league.

Lyon come into this match undefeated in their last five games in all competitions, drawing one and winning four.  The draw was a disappointing 1-1 draw at home with Angers in Ligue 1 but there have been some good wins including 2-0 at home against second place Marseille and 2-0 away at Guingamp.

Trends show Lyon have lost only one of their last sixteen matches in Ligue 1 and have won ten of their last thirteen games.

At home, they lost just one of their last twelve Ligue 1 games and that was against Lille towards the end of November.

Lyon have scored in thirty-eight of their last thirty-nine home Ligue 1 games, which highlights what a great attacking threat they have when playing in-front of their own fans.  They have also kept clean sheets in three of their last five home league games, which shows they are improving defensively.

Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed a crushing 8-0 home win against Dijon in mid-week as they continued their seemingly relentless run towards the Ligue 1 title.  It was a tremendous display in which Neymar scored 4 goals and could have had more.

Trends show they have won their last eight matches in all competitions, with wins coming in Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.  They are also involved in the Champions League and remain on course for the quadruple this season.

Paris Saint-Germain have won their last five games in Ligue 1 and have tasted just one defeat in the league this season, which came at Strasbourg at the start of December.

They have lost just one of their last eleven away Ligue 1 matches but have been held to a draw this season by both Marseille and Montpellier.  Both teams have scored in five of Paris Saint-Germain’s last seven away league games.

Team news and Lyon could be without Fernando Marcal who has a strained calf muscle.  Mariano Diaz is back to full fitness and should start the match up-front with support from Nabil Fekir.

Paris Saint-Germain are waiting on the fitness of Thiago Motta and Javier Pastore who remain doubtful for this match.  Marquinhos and Kylian Mbappe should both come back into the starting XI for this match having missed out in mid-week.

Everyone in France other than Paris Saint-Germain fans will be hoping Lyon can win this match.  We should see goals but unfortunately for the home team, there seems like nothing can stop Unai Emery’s team from their march towards the Ligue 1 title.  Do not be surprised to see Paris Saint-Germain come away with maximum points.