France - Ligue 1
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Played
December 18, 2011 8:00 PM GMT
Parc des Princes — Paris
Referee:‬ C. Turpin‎
Attendance:‬ 45195‎
 

Ligue 1 Preview: Paris Saint-Germain v Lille

Goal.com previews the action as the Ligue 1 champions visit the Parc des Princes to face a PSG side who are widely tipped to take their crown come the end of the season

By Mohammed Ali

More On :  LOSC Lille Métropole, Paris Saint-Germain, Paris Saint-Germain vs LOSC Lille Métropole
Eden Hazard - Lille (Getty Images)
Getty Images

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN


Sirigu
Ceara, Lugano, Sakho, Tiene
Sissoko, Bodmer
Menez, Pastore, Nene
Gameiro
LILLE


Landreau
Debuchy, Chedjou, Basa, Beria
Balmont, Mavuba, Pedretti
Cole, Sow, Hazard

Embattled Paris-Saint Germain boss Antoine Kombouare is unlikely to ring the changes after his players emerged unscathed in Wednesday's 4-2 Europa League victory over Athletic Bilbao.

Mamadou Sakho, Salvatore Sirigu and Mohamed Sissoko will be handed starts after the trio  only made the bench in midweek. PSG will retain their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Javier Pastore providing the link to striker Kevin Gameiro, scorer of nine league goals this term.

Holders Lille travel to the capital with no major injury worries either. Tulio de Melo is still struggling with a torn hamstring, while Benoit Pedretti set for a starting berth after coming off the bench in last Sunday's 2-0 win over Dijon.


 DID YOU KNOW?
  • Paris Saint-Germain secured a narrow 1-0 win over Sochaux last weekend to stay in touch at the top.
  • Les Parisiens have emerged victors in their last three home games against title-holders. 
  • Kevin Gameiro has averaged more than a goal a game against Lille when playing for FC Lorient.
  • Antoine Kombouare's men were eliminated from the Europa League despite a 4-2 win over Athletic Bilbao, with Slovan Bratislava qualifying for the last 16 instead. PSG only have the Ligue 1 trophy and Coupe de France to compete for.
  • Lille comfortably beat Dijon 2-0 on matchday 17. 
  • Les Dogues have fond memories of recent games against PSG. In this fixture in May, a 2-2 draw enabled Lille to win their first league title for more than 50 years.
  • Furthermore, Rudi Garcia's men edged out les Parisiens in the 2011 Coupe de France Final to seal a memorable double.
  • Rudi Garcia's side are on a run of 15 games unbeaten in the league - a club record.
  • Similarly, Lille have not lost on the road in Ligue 1 since April against Monaco. They have also lost just twice away in the league in 2011.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 LOSC Lille Métropole
    23.95 %
  • Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 LOSC Lille Métropole
    14.37 %
  • Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 LOSC Lille Métropole
    12.58 %
Head to Head
France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ Jan 27, 2013 Paris Saint-Germain 1 - LOSC Lille Métropole 0
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France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ Sep 2, 2012 LOSC Lille Métropole 1 - Paris Saint-Germain 2
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France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ Apr 29, 2012 LOSC Lille Métropole 2 - Paris Saint-Germain 1
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France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ Dec 18, 2011 Paris Saint-Germain 0 - LOSC Lille Métropole 0
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France - Ligue 1 ‎(FRA1)‎ May 21, 2011 Paris Saint-Germain 2 - LOSC Lille Métropole 2
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Last Five Matches
Paris Saint-Germain
May 18, 2013Paris Saint-Germain 3 - Stade Brestois 29 1FRA1
May 12, 2013Olympique Lyonnais 0 - Paris Saint-Germain 1FRA1
May 5, 2013Paris Saint-Germain 1 - Valenciennes FC 1FRA1
Apr 28, 2013Evian Thonon Gaillard 0 - Paris Saint-Germain 1FRA1
Apr 21, 2013Paris Saint-Germain 3 - OGC Nice 0FRA1
LOSC Lille Métropole
May 18, 2013Montpellier HSC 0 - LOSC Lille Métropole 0FRA1
May 10, 2013LOSC Lille Métropole 3 - Stade de Reims 0FRA1
May 4, 2013Toulouse FC 4 - LOSC Lille Métropole 2FRA1
Apr 26, 2013LOSC Lille Métropole 3 - FC Sochaux 3FRA1
Apr 21, 2013SC Bastia 1 - LOSC Lille Métropole 2FRA1
Odds
Returns: PSG £75.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £32.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Lille £85.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
30Salvatore SiriguGoalkeeper
-CearáDefender
6Zoumana CamaraDefender
6Milan BiševacDefender
26Christophe JalletDefender
19NenêMidfielder
-Mohamed Lamine SissokoMidfielder
27Javier PastoreMidfielder
5Mathieu BodmerMidfielder
7Jérémy MenezMidfielder
19Kevin GameiroStriker
1Nicolas DouchezGoalkeeper
3Mamadou SakhoDefender
5Siaka TiénéDefender
2Diego LuganoDefender
22Sylvain ArmandDefender
9Guillaume HoarauStriker
11Mevlut ErdingStriker
-Mickaël LandreauGoalkeeper
18Franck BeriaDefender
22A. ChedjouDefender
25Marko BasaDefender
2Mathieu DebuchyDefender
5Idrissa GueyeMidfielder
24Rio Antonio MavubaMidfielder
4Florent BalmontMidfielder
10Joe ColeMidfielder
7Moussa SowStriker
17Eden HazardMidfielder
1Vincent EnyeamaGoalkeeper
14David RozehnalDefender
21Laurent BonnartDefender
7Dimitri PayetStriker
-Ludovic ObraniakMidfielder
-Ireneusz JelenStriker
17Benoit PedrettiMidfielder
Players to Watch
Javier Pastore
Javier Pastore
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 27
Games Goals YC RC
33 4 2 0
Undoubtedly the spotlight will be on the hosts' Javier Pastore who will come up against one of Europe's brightest talents in Eden Hazard. The Argentine started the season in explosive form, netting six goals. Though he has faded somewhat of late, 'El Flaco' will be up for the big-game test to restart les Parisiens season. A clever player of immense techincal ability, he will provide Gameiro with the attacking opportunities, whilst also linking play with Menez and Nene. A tough night in store for Lille, then.
Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 17
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
The Belgian wonderkid returns to the scene where he guided Les Dogues to a first league and cup double in more than half a century. The 20 year old will form part of the attacking offensive on the wing. With searing pace, and fantastic dribbling ability, Hazard has the technique to turn any defender inside-out, with a particular penchant for cutting in from the flank. Ceara and Saka Tiene will have to keep this man quiet.
Probable Lineups
Salvatore Sirigu 30
Ceará 0
Zoumana Camara 6
Milan Biševac 6
Christophe Jallet 26
Nenê 19
Mohamed Lamine Sissoko 0
Javier Pastore 27
Mathieu Bodmer 5
Jérémy Menez 7
Kevin Gameiro 19
Mickaël Landreau 0
Franck Beria 18
A. Chedjou 22
Marko Basa 25
Mathieu Debuchy 2
Idrissa Gueye 5
Rio Antonio Mavuba 24
Florent Balmont 4
Joe Cole 10
Moussa Sow 7
Eden Hazard 17
Prediction
The two sides come into this encounter on the back of disappointing European exits, but the onus is on the hosts to perform. Lille, unbeaten in 15 league games certainly won't be pushed into a defensive formation, so expect end-to-end attacking football from the off.

What looks likely is both sides nullifying each other's attacking threats - a draw on the cards and an entertaining match in store.
Editor's Prediction
PSG 2
Lille 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Striker
PSG 		30 4
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Striker
AS Saint-Etienne 		19 1
Darío Cvitanich Darío Cvitanich
Striker
OGC Nice 		18 5
Bafetimbi Gomis Bafetimbi Gomis
Striker
Lyon 		16 4
Anthony Modeste Anthony Modeste
Striker
SC Bastia 		15 3