Lyon play host to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on Sunday evening looking to register their fourth successive win in all competitions.
PSG will make the trip to the Lyon Olympic Stadium keen to further strengthen their commanding position at the top of the standings.
Lyon
© Reuters
Lyon would have hoped to be much closer to PSG at this stage of the season, and there will be an acceptance that the title race is effectively already over with 16 points already separating the teams and the leaders possessing two games in hand.
However, Bruno Genesio's side still have plenty to play for, and they require a strong second half to the campaign to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Another appearance among European's elite is imperative if the club are to hold on to the majority of their talented squad, and they will all be relishing the chance to showcase their talent against PSG as well as wanting to end their opponents' unbeaten record.
Lyon were poor during the opening games of 2019 with draws coming against Reims and Toulouse, but the fightback against the latter appears to have acted as the catalyst for improvement.
Three successive narrow wins have been recorded on the road, and Genesio will have been left impressed by his side's character having witnessed his players overturn a deficit against Saint-Etienne and play for 45 minutes with 10 men at Amiens.
The club's supporters are used to seeing attack-minded performances, but Lyon have displayed another side to their game and it will have to be on show in order to overcome PSG.
Keeping Nabil Fekir at the club until at least the end of the season is a huge plus for Lyon, and the France international has recorded two goals and an assist from his last three outings in France's top flight.
That return now means that Lyon have four players who have scored six goals in Ligue 1 this season, and Genesio will be calling on the quartet to at least double their tallies before the end of May.
Recent form: WDDDWW
Recent form (all competitions): LDDWWW
Paris Saint-Germain
© Reuters
PSG have come through their opening 20 league games for the loss of just four points and inwardly at least, Thomas Tuchel will feel that the club already have one hand on the Ligue 1 trophy.
However, there is no chance of complacency among Tuchel's star-studded squad with the achievement of an unbeaten league campaign at stake, and with Neymar absent for the next couple of months.
The Brazilian superstar has only featured in 13 league games this season, but 13 goals and six assists have been contributed from those outings and Tuchel must find a solution.
There is no shortage of options, however, and there is an argument that the unavailability of Neymar could further unite the squad at a time when they also have ambitions of winning the Champions League.
Tuchel will already have one eye on the double-header with a rejuvenated Manchester United, and the German may be wary of losing his job at the end of the season if his side do not progress past the Premier League giants.
Nevertheless, the club's hierarchy will only be left impressed if Tuchel can come through the upcoming tests with Lyon and United without being able to call upon the world's most-expensive footballer.
PSG have hit the ground running since the Christmas break with a remarkable 16 goals coming from just three games, but a trip to Lyon is regarded as their biggest challenge of the campaign.
Tuchel will likely err on the side of caution when it comes to his team selection, but there is a unique feel to this encounter with a positive result this weekend potentially leading to many greater rewards.
Recent form: DDWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WDWWWW
Team News
© Reuters
Leandro Paredes will be given an immediate debut by Tuchel due to PSG's issues in the middle of the park.
Tuchel must decide whether to partner the new arrival with Dani Alves or Christopher Nkunku, unless Marquinhos is moved into midfield due to the return of Presnel Kimpembe.
Marco Verratti and Neymar are sidelined through injury, while Adrien Rabiot remains out of contention despite remaining at the club.
Leo Dubois should get the nod for Lyon at right wing-back, while Marcal is available to feature in defence after serving a suspension.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Denayer, Marcelo, Marcal; Dubois, Ndombele, Aouar, Mendy; Fekir; Depay, Dembele
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Areola; Meunier, Kimpembe, Silva, Kurzawa; Marquinhos, Paredes; Mbappe, Draxler, Di Maria; Cavani
Head To Head
Lyon have lost their last eight matches when facing PSG at Parc des Princes, but it is a different story in front of their own supporters.
Two wins and one draw have been recorded from their last four encounters, and that includes a 2-1 victory a little over 12 months ago.
We say: Lyon 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Lyon will be hoping to remind people that they deserve to be regarded as the second-best team in French football but even with Neymar, we expect PSG to deliver a strong showing on their travels.
No Data Analysis info
