Ligue 1’s first-placed Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will look to extend their lead at the top when they welcome Lens to Parc des Princes this Saturday.
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Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, PSG has climbed to a three-point lead following Monaco’s recent slip.
Despite some early stumbles, PSG’s domestic dominance continues, highlighted by a recent 3-0 away victory over Marseille in the heated Le Classique matchup.
Match Preview and Recent Form
While questions remain regarding PSG’s European form after a less-than-stellar four points from their first three games, they’ve been commanding in the league.
Currently the only unbeaten side, PSG took a decisive lead against Marseille last weekend after Marseille’s Amine Harit received a red card.
That win preserved PSG’s unbeaten streak of 12 matches at Marseille’s Velodrome in Ligue 1, with no goals conceded there since 2017.
Boasting a record of seven wins and two draws, PSG looks poised to complete their 10th league match without a defeat—marking their eighth such start since the Qatari takeover in 2011.
With impressive recent form at Parc des Princes, they have already scored 16 goals in four home Ligue 1 games this season, despite struggling for clean sheets, having just one in their last 15 home league matches.
Lens, meanwhile, arrives at the French capital with a mixed record. They fell short against PSG in both meetings last season and now risk a fourth consecutive loss to the champions—a rarity in their history.
Historically strong against PSG before the 2007-08 season, Lens has since faltered, failing to win any of their last eight encounters.
Manager Will Still’s Lens side, however, have shown resilience, holding fifth place and staying within three points of the top four despite drawing frequently.
Last week’s 2-0 Derby du Nord defeat to Lille saw Lens miss out on what could have been their sixth draw in seven matches.
After conceding a controversial 98th-minute penalty, Jonathan David sealed Lille’s win, a decision that manager Still expressed frustration over.
While pragmatism has kept Lens in European contention, their low scoring rate remains a concern, as they’ve only scored nine goals in nine matches—a figure lower than all but relegation-zone teams.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
For PSG, the absences include suspended defender Lucas Beraldo, as well as Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez, and Goncalo Ramos, who are all recovering from long-term injuries.
Forward Bradley Barcola, a standout with eight goals so far, may be rested with an upcoming Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid in mind.
Lens will miss South American defender Facundo Medina, serving a suspension, while Wesley Said, Jimmy Cabot, Martin Satriano, and Ruben Aguilar are sidelined due to injuries.
Medina’s absence might lead manager Still to bring in Jhoanner Chavez, with Przemyslaw Frankowski also a possibility after missing part of last weekend’s match.
Probable Lineups:
- PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Skriniar, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Mayulu, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha; Marco Asensio, Kolo Muani, D Doue
- Lens: Samba; Gradit, Danso, Khusanov; Frankowski, Thomasson, Diouf, Chavez; Sotoca, Nzola, Zaroury
Match Prediction and Key Factors
Lens’ solid defensive form may give them hope, but PSG’s prolific home scoring speaks for itself, with three or more goals scored in every home game.
If Lens’ attack can deliver, they might disrupt PSG’s rhythm. Nonetheless, PSG’s consistency on home turf makes them favorites in what promises to be an intense Ligue 1 clash.
