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Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain have started the campaign without a defeat in their opening three months as they sit at the top-of-the-table. They now welcome what is a strong Lens side to Parc des Princes this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 2nd November, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
PSG PREVIEW: EXTENDING THE LEAD
Luis Enrique has recently signed a new deal as Paris Saint-Germain try to turn things around from a bit of a celebrity circus at Parc des Princes to something a little more exciting and attacking with younger players, headlined by the impressive performances of former Olympique Lyonnais forward Bradley Barcola.
PSG begin the weekend’s round of fixtures sitting at the top-of-the-table with seven victories and two draws in their opening nine matches, sitting three points clear of Monaco. That comes as a result of an impressive 3-0 hammering of Olympique de Marseille in Le Classique at Stade Velodrome last weekend.
LENS PREVIEW: FINALLY BEATEN
It has been a bright and impressive start to the campaign for Lens, albeit with a conservative style of football bringing about too many draws, but the northerners did suffer their first defeat of the campaign in their ninth match of the season last weekend in the Derby du Nord at home to Lille.
Lens suffered a 2-0 defeat to their arch-rivals in a game in which a lot of drama occurred as Jonathan David opened the scoring with a 98th minute penalty before Mohamed Bayo clinched all three points with a 101st minute goal. They have collected 14 points from their opening nine matches.
PSG TEAM NEWS: BERALDO SUSPENSION
Paris Saint-Germain will have to deal without former Sao Paulo defender Lucas Beraldo due to suspension after an accumulation of too many yellow cards.
As well as the absence of the Brazilian defender, PSG will remain without experienced centre-back Presnel Kimpembe, who has been missing for over a year now.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Lee, Dembele, Barcola
UNAVAILABLE: Beraldo (Suspended), Kimpembe (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LENS TEAM NEWS: SEVERAL ABSENTEES
The visitors are dealing with several key first-team absentees for this weekend’s trip to the capital city with Facundo Medina now missing due to suspension.
As well as Medina, goalkeeper Herve Koffi is sidelined through injury alongside the likes of Ruben Aguilar, Wesley Said and Martin Satriano for this one.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Samba; Gradit, Danso, Khusanov; Frankowski, Diouf, El Aynaoui, Zaroury; Thomasson; Sotoca, Nzola
UNAVAILABLE: Koffi (Injured), Medina (Suspended), Aguilar (Injured), Cabot (Injured), Bane (Injured), Said (Injured), Satriano (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
PSG VS LENS PREDICTION
PSG will be expected to get their foot down and ram home their advantage in the next couple of months before France breaks for the winter stoppage. They have not been convincing in the last month or so until their hammering of arch-rivals Marseille last weekend. Lens were fortunate to have made it eight games without a defeat and back-to-back losses now seems highly likely for Will Still’s side.
PSG VS LENS TIP: PSG TO WIN -1 HANDICAP