PSG will look to maintain their position at the top of the Ligue 1 table as they travel to the Groupama Stadium to take on sixth-placed Lyon.
PSG initially made a strong start to their Ligue 1 campaign, winning each of their opening four matches, but surprisingly, the reigning champions have gone on to win just four of their next eight (W4-D3-L1).
The latest of those wins came last week at home to Nice, and that required a 94th-minute winner from Goncalo Ramos to just about maintain their two-point lead at the top.
However, Luis Enrique’s men suffered their first defeat in the Champions League this season, losing 1-2 at home to the Bayern Munich juggernaut.
Lyon also made a strong start to the campaign, with Paulo Fonseca’s hosts winning each of their opening three and five of their opening six Ligue 1 clashes.
However, Les Gones have gone off the boil in recent weeks, winning just one of their next five (W1-D2-L2), to slip down to sixth in the Ligue 1 table, four points behind their visitors.
Lyon were also in European action in midweek, and like PSG, lost their first match in Europe this campaign, losing 2-0 in Seville against Real Betis in the Europa League.
How the bookies view it: PSG favourites
As is usually the case domestically, PSG are favourites to claim all three points, with BOYLE Sports pricing an away success at 7/10.
Lyon are 3/1 underdogs to bounce back from successive draws in Ligue 1, whilst the draw is 14/5.
Head to head: Parisian dominance
As they have with both teams in recent years, PSG have dominated Lyon, winning each of the last five meetings.
Lyon’s last success against PSG came in April 2023, but they haven’t beaten the Parisians at this venue since February 2019.
Players to watch: Barcola to haunt his old employers?
Bradley Barcola already has seven goal involvements to his name for PSG this season, including four goals and an assist in 10 Ligue 1 appearances.
The French international set up one of the three goals his side scored at the Groupama last season, and I like the 5/6 on offer at Bet365 for him to Score or Assist against his former club on Sunday.
Predicted line-ups:
Lyon will be missing Ernest Nuamah, Orel Mangala and Malick Fofana through injury and Abner and Hans Hateboer due to suspension.
Luis Enrique will be without fullbacks Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, as well as forwards Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele.
Lyon: Greif, Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico, Tessmann, Morton, Sulc, Tolisso, Moreira, Satriano
Paris Saint-Germain: Chevalier, Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Zabarnyi, Hernandez, Vitinha, Neves, Ruiz, Mayulu, Kvaratskhelia, Barcola
Anything else catch the eye?
This tends to be one of the most entertaining clashes in the French football calendar, and I’m expecting more of the same between the pair on Sunday night.
The last five meetings between the pair have averaged a whopping 4.40 goals per game, with Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals paying out in each of them (1-4, 1-4, 1-2, 1-3 & 2-3).
Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals has also been a winning selection in four of Lyon’s last five Ligue 1 outings, and a repeat pays an appealing 20/21 at BOYLE Sports.
GambleAware