PSG welcome Lens to the Parc des Princes for a French Ligue 1 fixture on Sunday as both teams look to build on fine starts. The visitors will be pleased with their campaign so far, but are set to face a tough task against the champions, who are perfect at the moment.
PSG have enjoyed a perfect start to the season, having won all three of their matches so far. Although it is still early days in the campaign, the table has taken on a familiar sight, with Luis Enrique’s men sitting at the top, albeit on goal difference.
Having begun their campaign with a pair of 1-0 wins over Nantes and Angers, PSG finally flexed their attacking quality last time out. The Parisians claimed a 6-3 victory at Toulouse before the international break, with Joao Neves netting a hat-trick.
Lens will travel to the capital off the back of a 3-1 home victory over Brest in their previous Ligue 1 fixture. They fought back from a goal down at the break, with second-half efforts from Florian Thauvin, Morgan Guilavogui and Adrien Thomasson earning them the win.
Pierre Sage's men will be feeling confident heading into Sunday's clash, having won their last two matches. It has been a solid return to winning ways after kicking off their campaign with a 1-0 home defeat to Lyon.
How the bookies view it: PSG are overwhelming favourites
PSG have been installed as overwhelming favourites among the bookies and are priced at 3/10 by BoyleSports to claim the win. A victory for Lens is valued at 6/1, while a draw is set at odds of 4/1.
Head to head: Dominant Parisians
PSG have a 14-7 advantage, with nine draws from 30 previous matches against Lens. The Parisians did the Ligue 1 double last season, winning 1-0 at home before a 2-1 away victory in the reverse fixture.
Players to watch: Barcola in the spotlight
Bradley Barcola has looked sharp this season and is off the mark for PSG while also scoring for France on international duty. The forward was also on target in the last meeting with Lens and could be the one to watch on Sunday (Bradley Barcola anytime goalscorer – offered at 21/20 with BoyleSports).
Rayan Fofana often leads the line for Lens and has already found the net this season. The forward could be worth keeping an eye on at the Parc des Princes (Rayan Fofana anytime goalscorer – available at 10/3).
Probable line-ups:
Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue are both ruled out with injury, which could see striker Goncalo Ramos earn a rare start. Regulars Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, Barcola, and Joao Neves are all expected to retain their spots in the starting XI.
For Lens, Robin Risser could start in goal, with Malang Sarr and Matthieu Udol in defence. Thomasson and Mamadou Sangare are in the middle of the park, while Florian Thauvin, Wesley Said and Rayan Fofana are the trio in attack.
PSG: Chevalier, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Vitinha, Ruiz, Neves, Barcola, Kvaratskhelia, Ramos
Lens: Risser, Gradit, Sarr, Udol, Aguilar, Thomasson, Sangare, Machado, Thauvin, Fofana, Said
Anything else catch the eye?
PSG scored in both halves in the win over Toulouse (PSG to score in both halves – valued at 3/4 with BoyleSports). Both teams have scored in eight of the last 10 meetings (BTTS YES – set at odds of 4/7).
The Parisians are priced at minimal odds for a straight victory, and a win and both teams to score offers more value (PSG win & BTTS YES – available at 11/8).
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