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The Ligue 1 returns with a top-of-the-table clash between first placed Paris Saint-Germain and Lille OSC at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.
French football is back to its regular season as clubs get back into action after a riveting international break. The Ligue 1 features its most important game of the season as the first placed Paris Saint-Germain take on second-placed Lille OSC at the Parc des Princes on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash. The two teams are on the same number of points from the same number of games, but the home side finds themselves on top of the ladder by the virtue of a superior goal difference.
PSG’s unbelievable season in domestic and international competitions continued when they chalked up a 4-2 win over Olympique Lyonnais before the international break kicked in in March. The crucial 4-2 victory also saw Angel Di Maria and Danilo Pereira got on the scoresheet along with Kylian Mbappe to leave no chance for a Lyon comeback. They did, however, score twice through Ismail Slimani and Maxwell Cornet as the game ended 4-2.
The victory over Lyon served as a significant morale boost following the Parisians’ shock loss to Nantes. It also allowed Mauricio Pochettino’s side to replace Lille OSC at the top of the league, as the former league leaders succumbed to an unexpected loss to Nimes last time out. Pochettino’s side have struggled to keep their place at the top of the table in the current season courtesy of a fantastic run of results by Lille.
The Parisians will also have the opportunity to win silverware in Europe as they clash with Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final, which will also be a replay of the 2020 Champions League final. Meanwhile, domestically, PSG will have to continue to eke out important three points in a row to keep their distance away from a charging Lille side. They have already lost twice in a row at home and will need a victory over Lille to avoid losing three matches at home since 2007. A win for the Parisians will take them three points clear on top.
Lille come into the fixture on the back of a humiliating defeat to relegation-threatened Nimes with a 2-1 scoreline. Moussa Kone gave Pascal Plancque’s side the important lead before Xeka equalised for Lille. However, Nimes striker Renaud Ripart netted his eighth goal of the season to send Les Dogues packing with a shocking result before the international break.
The loss also meant that Lille had to vacate their long-held first place spot in the Ligue 1 standings to Paris Saint-Germain. The 2-1 loss to Nimes was also only their third loss in the league season.
Christophe Galtier’s side have already been eliminated from the Europa League and Coupe de France and can muster all of their tactical and technical prowess into claiming the top spot in the league again. Lille are on a nine-game unbeaten run away from home and have won seven of their previous eight league fixtures on the road. Hence, PSG cannot take the visitors on a lighter note.
The previous game between the two sides was a goalless draw at Stade Pierre-Mauroy before Christmas 2020.
Key Players
Kylian Mbappe: Les Parisiens have banked upon the unbelievable goal-scoring record of Frenchman Kylian Mbappe. He netted a brace against the Lyon-based club and reached a century of top-flight goals. He also is the youngest player to score 100 Ligue 1 goals, thus making him one of the biggest young prospects around France.
Angel di Maria: Di Maria’s regular goal-scoring rate makes him an important inclusion for Pochettino’s side against Lille. The Argentine has assisted nine goals and scored on five occasions which speak volumes of his vision and precision with the ball. He will be key for the Parisians in their quest to break down the opposition.
Julian Draxler: With the possible absence of Neymar Jr and Mauro Icardi upfront, the onus could well be on Julian Draxler to find the goals against a resilient Lille side. The German attacker likes to play with the ball and is a comfortable passer on the wings.
Renato Sanches: The Portuguese midfielder is expected to replace Xeka in the midfield despite the goal. Sanches provides versatility and composure to the midfield which has been pivotal to Lille’s exceptional league run so far in the season. His form for Les Dogues since signing for them has led to transfer interest.
Prediction
PSG and Lille are up at the top of the ladder and are on a fantastic league run. The game is expected to be a tight affair and the result could well go either side. A win for either side will give them a three-point lead-up top, making the clash the premier tie of the Ligue 1 season.
