After a first half of the season marked by ups and downs, Paulo César's players have started 2026 with excellent intentions. The training camp spent under the Iberian sun and heat in Jerez, Spain, may have something to do with it. In any case, the capital club has returned to competition with lofty ambitions and is putting on a show both at the PSG Campus and on the road. Four matches, four wins, 15 goals scored and, most importantly, not a single ball to retrieve from the back of the net for Mary Earps and Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, who started in the Coupe de France against Lille (2-0).
Les Rouge et Bleu are quite simply the most in-form team in France early in 2026. Although OL Lyonnes made short work of their opponents in the Coupe de France, the leaders dropped their first points of the season last time out, conceding a draw away to Paris FC (0-0).
The Parisian women's team is in such good form at the start of this year thanks to a close-knit squad that is gelling better on the pitch, but also to strong individual players who are clinical in front of goal. Merveille Kanjinga and Romée Leuchter have been particularly successful in the last four games. The Congolese international has been decisive in each of them, with an impressive tally of five goals and one assist in January.
Romée Leuchter is not to be outdone, having been decisive three times on her return to action against Le Havre (one goal, two assists), before delighting the fans at the Campus last week with a hat-trick in the Coupe de France against Montpellier. The two Parisian strikers are thus the two most decisive players in the top flight, with the Dutch international (10 goals, six assists in 10 games) narrowly ahead of her teammate (eight goals, five assists in 13 games).
The undefeated Arkéma leaders OL Lyonnes undoubtedly represent the biggest challenge of the season for our Parisiennes. Since last summer, Jonatan Giraldez has established himself as the driving force behind the French champions following the departure of Joe Montemurro. The 34-year-old Spaniard, who previously coached Barcelona and Washington Spirit, relies on positional play and intense pressing that regularly causes problems for opposing defences when they try to move the ball around.
Les Rouge et Bleu will therefore need to be vigilant, especially as Lyon have many strengths in different positions. In his usual 4-3-3 formation, Jonatan Giraldez does not hesitate to draw on the depth of his squad and rotate players on a weekly basis. Christiane Endler, who was forced off with a head injury in last week's match against Marseille, could retain her place in goal. If not, the experienced Teagan Micah will take her place. In defence, captain Wendie Renard is expected to form a partnership with Ingrid Engen, unless the Spanish tactician prefers Alice Sombath, whose stock has been rising in recent months. The wings will be covered by Selma Bacha and Tarciane, both of whom are key players in the team's transition game.
In midfield, Melchie Dumornay naturally stands out at the heart of the game and is likely to be flanked by Korbin Schrader and Lindsey Heaps. Finally, the attacking trio undoubtedly offers Lyon the most possibilities and different combinations. While Marie-Antoinette Katoto is expected to lead the attack, the starting positions on the wings are more open. Despite being the team's top scorer with six goals, Vicki Bècho could start on the bench if Jonatan Giraldez opts for experience by starting Kadidiatou Diani, as he has often done this season. On the opposite side, there is fierce competition between Tabitha Chawinga, who has also scored six goals this season, and Jule Brand, but it is the German international who seems to have had the upper hand in recent weeks.
A dream match-up calls for a dream setting. For this clash with OL Lyonnes, Paris Saint-Germain's women's team will be playing at the Parc des Princes for the third time this season. Paulo César's players will need your support to hand the leaders a first defeat of the season and reposition themselves in the race for the playoffs. Currently fourth, the capital club remains in touch with second-placed Nantes, who are four points ahead. Behind our Parisiennes, however, the pressure is intense, as Fleury and Strasbourg are only one point behind les Rouge et Bleu.