PSG vs Lille: Battle between two most recent Ligue 1 champs
An interesting battle is in store as PSG and Lille prepare to renew acquaintances on Friday. This game will pit, of course, the reigning Ligue 1 champions against the team they beat to the title. It’s safe to say, though, that both teams have had vastly different experiences so far this term. Although they’ve had some teething problems, namely fully integrating big signing Lionel Messi into the squad – with the Argentinian star still hoping to finally open his Ligue 1 account – Les Parisiens are fully in control of the domestic landscape. A frustrating scoreless stalemate against Marseille in last weekend’s Classique clash hasn’t really put a dent in their lead, as they come into this match seven points ahead of the chasing pack.
PSG will have revenge firmly on their minds in this clash. Not only did Lille prevent them from defending their Ligue 1 crown last season, but Les Dogues also beat them in the Trophée des Champions at the start of this campaign. That meant that Les Parisiens couldn’t make it nine wins on the spin, as they’ve won every single Trophée des Champions since 2013. However, the two sides’ fortunes have diverged drastically since then. Reigning champs Lille saw coach Christophe Galtier abruptly depart and move on to manage Nice; interestingly, Nice now sit in third while Lille, now under the tutelage of Jocelyn Gourvennec, find themselves in 10th, 13 points behind PSG.
Lille had thought they’d seemingly turned a corner, but will come into this game winless in their last two matches. PSG, meanwhile, did fire blanks in a frustrating 0-0 draw with Marseille, but still enjoy a comfortable lead over the rest of the table. That being said, Messi’s failure to get up and running has gotten some sections of the French press buzzing; to date, he’s yet to score in Ligue 1 which is the worst fans have seen of him since he began his professional career in 2005.
But with a knock potentially scuppering things, Messi and his legions of fans will have to wait a bit longer to see the six-time Ballon d’Or winner finally end his league goal-scoring drought. PSG will also have to make do without Kylian Mbappe, with the young 2018 World Cup winner struggling with a nasty ear infection. That means that Mauricio Pochettino will have to tinker with his squad, and on the defensive front, he’ll be missing new signing Achraf Hakimi, who was given his marching orders during Le Classique last week.
All in all, given that this game kicks off matchday 12, it represents a great chance for PSG to extend their lead – albeit temporarily – to ten points over second-placed Lens, who’ve been one of the surprise packages so far this season. Will Les Parisiens successfully get revenge on Les Dogues for snatching the Ligue 1 crown last season and beating them in the Trophée des Champions at the start of this term? Or will Lille rebound from their latest slump to make it two wins out of two meetings with PSG this campaign?
