Two clubs suffering from underwhelming starts in Ligue 1 meet at the Groupama Stadium on Sunday night, when Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain round off the weekend's action.

Lyon currently occupy the relegation zone at this early stage, while PSG only got their first win of the season last weekend.

Match preview

In what has been an opening month to forget, this Lyon side have been setting more than a couple of unwanted club records.

For the first time since the 1960s, Lyon started a league campaign with two defeats, after losing at Strasbourg before being thrashed at home by Montpellier.

That embarrassing defeat to Montpellier saw them go down 4-1, and led to a bizarre post-match press conference where manager Laurent Blanc told Lyon that they should sack him.

When asked what must be done to improve the club's fortunes, Blanc responded by saying "change the manager".

Blanc stayed on though, and despite earning a point last weekend against Nice in an uneventful 0-0 draw, they still have their lowest points tally at this stage of a season for 31 years.

Another draw or a defeat here will mean Lyon are winless in their first four matches of a season for the first time since 2000.

PSG are not ideal opponents either, as not only are they the current French champions and the team to beat, but Lyon have failed to taste victory against the Parisiens in their last five home encounters - taking just one point.

With an international break on the horizon, and time for Lyon to look for alternatives, Blanc's future may be under threat if they lose this weekend.

Blanc got off to a slow start when replacing Peter Bosz midway through last season, and despite a late rally, Lyon were unable to qualify for Europe, and it was ultimately surprising that the manager stayed on for this season.

PSG will hope to put their former manager under more pressure by claiming another three points here, after recording their first win of the season last weekend.

A very sluggish start to the Luis Enrique reign saw PSG draw their opening two fixtures, at home to Lorient and away at Toulouse.

However, Kylian Mbappe's influence was too much for Lens to handle, as his two goals helped the Ligue 1 holders to a 3-1 win at the Parc des Princes last weekend.

Lens have been struggling though after losing many of their key players from the squad which finished second behind PSG last season.

Lyon are in similar form to Lens, so another PSG win will be expected, despite the magnitude of the game, between two of France's most successful clubs.

Mbappe looks like he will be unstoppable again in this division too, with three goals in just 130 minutes of action since he was reintegrated into the squad.

Team News

Lyon will remain without talisman and top scorer Alexandre Lacazette after his straight red card against Montpellier two weeks ago.

Promising youngster Bradley Barcola has also left the club, joining PSG, but a debut against his former club may be unlikely.

Goalkeeper Anthony Lopes is also absent, while Dejan Lovren continues to nurse a muscle injury.

Thirty-six-year-old Remy Riou is set to deputise for Lopes once again, while Lovren's Croatian compatriot Duje Caleta-Car should start in the centre of defence in his absence.

PSG have a number of injury issues to contend with, as new signings Kang-in Lee and Goncalo Ramos both missed the win over Lens last week.

Defensive trio Presnel Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes, and Nordi Mukiele have all missed the start of the season and remain out, while a muscle injury also keeps Juan Bernat on the sidelines.

Enrique used Marco Asensio in a central role for the win over Lens, and his faith was repaid with a goal, so the Spaniard could start in the same role here, flanked by Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.

Lyon possible starting lineup:
Riou; Mata, Diomande, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Lepenant, Caqueret; Nuamah, Kadewere, Cherki

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Ugarte, Vitinha; Dembele, Asensio, Mbappe

We say: Lyon 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain

PSG have won six of their last eight Ligue 1 away matches, scoring two or more on each occasion while also drawing the other two, so will come in as big favourites.

Blanc will not want to enter the international break with his side still in the relegation zone, but the task may be too much for a side very much out of form.


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