What: French Ligue 1
Who: Lyon vs Paris Saint-Germain
When: Sunday 12th May, 2013, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Stade Gerland, Lyon, France
Champions League Spot In Sight For Lyon
Lyon have recovered from their blip of a month ago with a run of good results that have seen them shore up third place. But they know that there are two sides breathing heavily down their necks in the race for the final Champions League spot. One is their arch rivals and neighbours Saint-Etienne, unbeaten still in 2013, and the other is Nice, who just so happen to be coached by former Lyon manager Claude Puel.
Lyon actually face Nice in their next match and so will be looking to extend their advantage over their southern rivals this weekend. They currently sit three points clear of Nice, with Saint-Etienne a point further back in fifth.
With ten points from their last four games, Remi Garde’s side have rediscovered the verve that they were showing early in the season. Clement Grenier has been key to their best displays and Bafetimbi Gomis has been typically reliable up front, notching his 16th goal of the season last weekend. Lyon have not lost at home to PSG for 20 years coming into this weekend. But they have won just one of their last four at the Stade Gerland, so this game will be a tricky test of that proud run against the Parisians. And it will be key to their hopes of finishing in the top three.
Will PSG Finally Lift The Title?
PSG may be champions by the time they step out at the Stade Gerland, if Toulouse can beat second-placed Marseille. But even if their arch rivals from down south win first, PSG know three points will see them lift their first French title since 1994. They will bid to do so at the ground of a team who have won the title seven times since.
The Parisians will hope that domestic success this season can lead to an era of domination like the one Lyon enjoyed a decade ago. But first of all they need to secure the title – a process delayed by last week’s fiery draw at home to Valenciennes. Thiago Silva was harshly dismissed during that game, meaning he will have to serve a suspension along with Salvatore Sirigu and Marco Verratti, both sent off against Evian the week before along with David Beckham. And sporting director Leonardo is also suspended for barging last week’s official Alex Castro and the French league technically could dock points from the club if they felt that way inclined as a result.
As the Qatari bankrolled club look set to celebrate Ligue 1 success at last, it looks increasingly likely that manager Carlo Ancelotti will be on his way at the end of the season, as part of the managerial merry-go-round involving Jose Mourinho’s departure from Real Madrid, which should see the Italian pitch up at the Bernabeu. It would be quite a way to go out too, if they do as expected secure the title.
Recent form
Lyon:
Montpellier 1-2 Lyon (19/04; Ligue 1)
Lyon 1-1 Saint-Etienne (28/04; Ligue 1)
Nancy 0-3 Lyon (05/05; Ligue 1)
PSG:
PSG 3-0 Nice (21/04; Ligue 1)
Evian 0-1 PSG (28/04; Ligue 1)
PSG 1-1 Valenciennes (05/05; Ligue 1)
Key absences
Lyon: Lisandro Lopez (doubt); Alexandre Lacazette (doubt); Remy Vercoutre; Rachid Ghezzal
PSG: Salvatore Sirigu; Marco Verratti; Thiago Silva; Lucas Moura
Players to watch
Lyon – Yoann Gourcuff: Having endured such a miserable time of it since his arrival from Bordeaux three years ago Gourcuff is reportedly unwanted at the Stade Gerland. He has however struck twice in his last two games after enjoying a rare stint in the team. Gourcuff’s all-round game was impressive last week in a 3-0 win at Nancy and he may just prove to be, as one French paper has put it, the joker in the pack as the season enters its decisive phase. There is no doubting his rich talent – maybe this is his revival.
PSG – Zlatan Ibrahimovic: PSG have scored just one goal in four of their last five games. Ibrahimovic, so deadly all season, hasn’t actually scored from open play for over a month now, in a remarkable run. But with 27 Ligue 1 goals to his name, more than anyone has racked up since Jean-Pierre Papin over 20 years ago, if anyone is going to score the title winning goal for PSG, it will be the unpredictable genius that is Ibrahimovic.
Match Predicition
This game pits Ligue 1’s two most prolific teams against each other in what could prove to be an entertaining encounter. PSG are without Lucas Moura so will probably stick with Jeremy Menez and Javier Pastore out wide, behind Ezequiel Lavezzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
For Lyon, Lisandro Lopez is a doubt, as is Alexandre Lacazette, and both would be unwelcome absences. But with Grenier and Malbranque providing the ammunition for Gomis, they have enough about them to trouble the Parisian defence. Particularly if Ancelotti opts to play David Beckham alongside Blaise Matuidi, Lyon could get joy going forward.
Ancelotti’s side’s form has not been as ruthless as usual of late, as they somewhat stumble towards the finish line. The French league does not like straightforward endings and so this may well provide another twist in this season’s drawn out title procession. Lyon 2-1 PSG.
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