PSG VS OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS
After a disappointing opening night in the Champions League in midweek, Paris Saint-Germain welcome rivals Olympique Lyonnais in the Ligue 1 on Sunday. The much awaited debut of PSG’s ‘MNM’ trio did not go to plan, with Mauricio Pochettino’s men unable to secure anything more than a draw.
Perhaps more concerning would be the fact that they looked second best for large periods of the game against Club Brugge, a match they are expected to dominate. PSG will be hoping that performance was a one off and they can bounce back quickly.
FULL-TIME: Club Brugge 1-1 @PSG_English 🔚
The points are shared on Matchday 1️⃣ of the @ChampionsLeague. #UCL | #CLUPSG pic.twitter.com/P3EVbjqQxP
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 15, 2021
Their opponents Lyon did manage to get their European campaign off to a winning start, beating Rangers of Scotland 2-0 in the Europa League. This was in stark contrast to their league form having won just two of their first five games in Ligue 1.
Lyon are already seven points behind PSG who have a perfect record in the league and are four points clear of their nearest challengers. If Peter Bosz’s side harbour any hopes of mounting a title challenge this season then a win on Sunday is a must.
TEAM NEWS
One-third of the MNM trio is likely to miss the match against Lyon with Kylian Mbappe picking up an ankle injury against Brugge on Wednesday. He joins Marco Verrati on the sidelines, who is expected back next week, and summer signing Sergio Ramos who is yet to make his debut.
Lionel Messi is expected to make his home debut after missing last weekend’s win over Cleremont due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
#PSG’s Kylian Mbappe off early 2nd half.
Medical staff appears to be looking at left foot/big toe.
Big toe is taped (arrow).
A few possibilities: turf toe, contusion/fracture
Will learn more post match.#PSG #ChampionsLeague #Ligue1 @beINSPORTSUSA @brfootball @alimo_philip pic.twitter.com/U2q7XxT2SP— InjuryMechanisms (@IMechanisms) September 15, 2021
PSG Predicted Lineup: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Mendes; Wijnaldum, Gueye, Herrera; Neymar, Icardi, Messi
Lyon’s poor start to the season has been in part to a lengthy injury list that includes captain Leo Dubois, midfielders Thiago Mendes and Jeff Reine-Adelaide, and strikers Lenny Pintor and Tino Kadewere. On the plus side, Moussa Dembele may be available again for Peter Bosz although he is unlikely to start.
Karl Toko Ekambi wins it with a super strike!⚽💥#UELGOTW | @Heineken | #UEL pic.twitter.com/LaYiVgfF5D
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 17, 2021
Lyon Predicted Lineup: Lopes; Emerson, Denayer, Boateng, Gusto; Guimaraes, Aouar, Caqueret; Paqueta, Shaqiri, Cherki
GAME CHANGERS
Lionel Messi
All eyes will be on the Argentine attacker who will make his home debut at the Parc des Princes after his move from Barcelona in the summer. Messi showed signs of his true self in moments in the Champions League, most notably with a curling shot that came back off the crossbar.
He will be looking to inspire his side to a crucial victory and reignite the combination with Neymar that brought so much success at Camp Nou. He will be up against Jerome Boateng who was infamously tormented and Messi will be looking to do more of the same.
Rayan Cherki
The young Frenchman is one of the most precarious talents in the league, and in Europe. He has not yet been trusted by Bosz to start but this match may just be his coming of age story, up against the best players in the country.
😁 @rayan_cherki knows that winning feeling 😁#OLRCSA pic.twitter.com/u1LmNVkQKM
— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) September 13, 2021
Cherki’s explosive speed, strength and dribbling can be key to getting a result. Lyon will be under pressure most of the time and the winger can provide a productive out-ball to not only relieve that pressure but put some of their own on a PSG backline that can very much be breached.
PREDICTIONS
There are some obvious flaws in the PSG setup that are yet to be ironed out by Pochettino but this match is too big of an occasion for their many stars to not turn up. Lyon are no pushovers and the match is likely to be an end-to-end affair with lots of goal-mouth action. FootTheBall predicts though that Messi will inspire PSG to a narrow 3-2 win.
