Match Preview for Paris Saint-Germain v Lens
Paris Saint-Germain return to action aiming to maintain their 100 per cent start to the new Ligue 1 season as they welcome Lens to the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Luis Enrique’s side, who lost only one Ligue 1 game last season, have begun with three wins from three as they seek to win the French title for the fifth consecutive season.
While it is unlikely anyone interrupts PSG’s dominance of French football, Lens are one of the teams better placed to cause them problems.
Since returning to Ligue 1 in 2020, Lens have not finished outside the top 10 and were second behind PSG in 2022-23. Champions in 1997-98, Lens have claimed two wins from three to start the season, following an opening day defeat to Lyon with wins over Le Havre and Brest.
Head coach Luis Enrique’s preparation for the visit of Lens has hardly been ideal, as he had to undergo emergency surgery on a broken collarbone after a bicycle accident.
But Luis Enrique was reportedly fit enough to take training on Friday, and he will have some difficult selection decisions to make with the first fixture of PSG’s Champions League defence on the horizon next week.
PSG have a tough start to the league phase as they welcome Atalanta to the Parc des Princes, meaning Luis Enrique may be tempted to rest some of his big hitters.
At the same time, Lens present tricky opposition themselves, and Luis Enrique will not want an early slip-up domestically to give hope to the rest. Lyon have also taken nine points from three games while Lille, the last team to depose PSG and win the title, are two points behind.
History, though, is not on Lens’ side. Les Sang et Or have not won at the Parc des Princes since a 3-1 victory in 2006.
Team news for Paris Saint-Germain v Lens
PSG will be without two key attacking players, with Desire Doue and Ballon d’Or favourite Ousmane Dembele both suffering injuries while on international duty with France.
The club was left furious by those developments, and accused the French Football Federation of not heeding advice PSG provided pertaining to the workloads of the two players.
Midfielder Fabian Ruiz missed both of Spain’s World Cup qualifiers over the international break with muscular problems, while Senny Mayulu (adductor) is also set to miss out.
For Lens, left-back Jhoanner Chavez looks set to return from an ankle sprain. At the same position, Deiver Machado remains out with a knee issue.
Predicted line-ups for Paris Saint-Germain v Lens
Paris Saint-Germain: Chevalier; Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Beraldo, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery; Kvaratskhelia, Barcola, Ramos
Lens: Risser; Gradit, Sarr, Udol; Aguilar, Sangare, Thomasson, Machado; Thauvin, Said; Fofana
How to watch Paris Saint-Germain v Lens
Paris Saint-Germain v Lens kicks off at 4:15pm UK time. It is available on Amazon Prime Video and to Ligue 1 Pass subscribers. It can also be viewed by Bet365 customers online and on the Bet365 app.
