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PSG logo
Trophee des Champions | Final
Aug 1, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Lyon

2-0

Aurier (11'), Cavani (17')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lyon

Sports Mole looks ahead to the Trophees des Champions between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon in Montreal.

Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon will meet in Montreal on Saturday to battle it out for the Trophees des Champions.

The annual curtain-raiser to the Ligue 1 season pits the league champions and the Coupe de France winners against each other, though this year it will be league runners-up Lyon who take on PSG after Laurent Blanc's side won the double last term.


PSG

Teammates celebrate with Zlatan Ibrahimovic #10 of Paris Saint-Germain after his first half goal against Chelsea during their International Champions Cup match at Bank of America Stadium on July 25, 2015© Getty Images

French champions Paris Saint-Germain can clinch their third consecutive Trophee des Champions title on Saturday when they face Lyon in the Canadian city of Montreal.

Laurent Blanc's men have enjoyed an impressive pre-season so far, winning four of the five matches that they have played.

Their most recent triumph came on Thursday when they defeated Manchester United 2-0 in the International Champions Cup thanks to first-half goals from Blaise Matuidi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Soldier Field in Chicago.

PSG coach Blanc revealed after the game that the club was "close" to completing a deal for United winger Angel di Maria following talks between the relevant parties.

Les Parisiens have been relatively quiet by their standards in the transfer window so far this summer, bringing in just two new faces in the form of goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and midfielder Benjamin Stambouli.

While retaining their Ligue 1 crown and making big strides in the Champions League will be at the top of PSG's agenda this season, the club will be eager to set the tone by clinching the French Super Cup. With the wealth of talent that they have at their disposal, it is hard to see them slipping up in Montreal.

Recent form (all competitions): WWWWLW


Lyon

Lyon's French midfielder Corentin Tolisso vies with Arsenals Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey during the pre-season friendly football match between Arsenal and Lyon at The Emirates Stadium in north London on July 25, 2015© Getty Images

Lyon secured their highest league finish since 2010 last season when they ended as runners-up behind PSG.

Hubert Fournier's side made an admirable attempt to keep pressure on the holders throughout the course of the campaign before eventually finishing eight points adrift of top spot.

However, questions remain over whether they can mount a similar title bid this year. Les Gones have signed just two new players this summer, while a further six have departed the Stade de Gerland.

Their form in pre-season has also been a cause for concern, with four defeats and one victory coming in five fixtures.

Lyon recently participated in the Emirates Cup, though two defeats in a row saw them leave North London empty-handed. A 6-0 thrashing by Arsenal got them off to a bad start before a 2-0 loss to Villarreal concluded their miserable run.

Whatever the result in the Trophee des Champions, Lyon boss Fournier will be eager to see a bit more fight from his players ahead of the new campaign.

Recent form (all competitions): WLLWLL


Team News

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender David Luiz looks on before the UEFA Champions league quarter-final first leg football match PSG vs FC Barcelona at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 15, 2015© Getty Images

PSG are understood to have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match.

However, the likes of David Luiz, Edinson Cavani and Thiago Motta could all return to the starting lineup after starting on the bench against Manchester United.

Gueida Fofana and Clement Grenier are both out injured for Lyon, while Nabil Fekir is unavailable through suspension. Former PSG full-back Christophe Jallet has been named in the Lyon squad for the game.

PSG possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Maxwell, Thiago Silva, Aurier, Van der Wiel; Verratti, Stambouli, Matuidi; Cavani, Ibrahimovic, Moura

Lyon possible starting lineup:
Gorgelin; Mboumbouni, Bisevac, Kone, Labidi; Malbranque, D'Arpino, Mvuemba; Beauvue, Kalulu, Benzia


Head To Head

PSG have been the superior side in this fixture when it comes to recent meetings between the teams. Les Parisiens have won four of the last seven encounters, while Lyon have prevailed just the once in that time. However, Les Gones can take some encouragement from the fact that they have drawn their last two games with the champions.


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We say: PSG 2-0 Lyon

Paris Saint-Germain head into the game full of confidence thanks to four victories from five matches, and they should have enough to see off Lyon and clinch their first piece of silverware of the season. Lyon should not be written off after finishing the last campaign behind Les Parisiens, but they remain the underdogs ahead of the encounter.



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Teammates celebrate with Zlatan Ibrahimovic #10 of Paris Saint-Germain after his first half goal against Chelsea during their International Champions Cup match at Bank of America Stadium on July 25, 2015
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