A bit of a surprise this season. Despite a turbulent summer and a wave of major departures, OL are still very much alive and they haven’t stayed in Ligue 1 just to make up the numbers. Buoyed by victories over Marseille (1-0) and, more recently, Strasbourg at home (2-1), the Rhône-based club is once again battling for European places. The Lyonnais, who were held to a 3-3 draw by Paris FC before earning a point away to Brest last week despite being down to ten men (0-0), currently sit sixth, just two points off the podium.
On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain rediscovered the taste of victory in the league in their last outing, grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Nice. Les Parisiens, who sit in first place with a two-point advantage over Marseille and Lens, will be eager to maintain their position at the top of the league before the international break. But like their counterparts from Lyon, the club from the capital must cope with a congested fixture list and several absentees.
2 – Paris Saint-Germain and OL are the two teams to have recorded the most clean sheets in the league since the start of the season (6). The club from the capital are only one clean sheet away from their total for last season.
4 – Paris have won their last four matches against Lyon in Ligue 1, who have only lost 5 consecutive matches against the same opposition in the top flight since 1982-1991 against Nancy.
7 – Olympique Lyonnais have won each of their matches against teams currently ranked in the top seven of Ligue 1 (4 wins).
Paulo Fonseca and his team are expected to start against Paris Saint-Germain in a 4-2-3-1 formation. In goal, the imposing Dominik Greif (1.97m) has been impressive since his arrival this summer. The successor to Lucas Perri will be shielded by Moussa Niakhaté, the leader of the defence since the start of the season. Strong in duels and composed in his distribution, the Senegal international has formed an effective partnership with the ever-consistent Clinton Mata.
On the flanks, the Gones will have to make do without Abner Vinicius and Hans Hateboer, both suspended for this match. As a result, the usual starters are expected: England international Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the right, and Argentina’s World Cup winner Nicolás Tagliafico on the left. At 33 years old, the latter is one of the team’s leaders, both through his commitment on the pitch and his influence off it. In midfield, Tyler Morton has emerged as one of the most promising signings in the top flight.
The former Liverpool midfielder is expected to line up alongside Tanner Tessmann, who offers a more defensive profile and has grown in stature within OL’s starting eleven. Mathys De Carvalho will therefore begin on the bench, while Belgian international Orel Mangala has yet to recover from his injury. Slightly further forward, captain Corentin Tolisso is expected to take his usual place. The French international has established himself as the key man in Lyon’s side, likely relegating young prospect Khalis Merah to the bench.
In attack, the lively Malick Fofana and Ernest Nuamah will both miss out due to injury. Unsurprisingly, Adam Karabec should start on the right wing, with Afonso Moreira on the opposite flank. Rachid Ghezzal could make an appearance later in the game, as could Uruguayan international Martín Satriano, who is expected to start on the bench. If this line up is confirmed, then the versatile Pavel Šulc would be deployed as the spearhead of Lyon’s attacking line.