How Paris Saint-Germain Will Line Up Against Lyon

Paris Saint-Germain welcome old enemies Olympique Lyonnais to the Parc des Princes on Sunday aiming to defend a 35-match unbeaten run across all competitions. Remi Garde’s side might not represent the same challenge that it used to in PSG’s pre-Qatar Sports Investments era, but its clash with OL is still the headline event this weekend.

Following a 2-1 home win over Greek side Olympiakos in the Champions League on Wednesday, Laurent Blanc’s players are in excellent form. Despite rotating almost half of the squad in Reims last weekend, the side from the capital still managed to maintain its four-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table with a 3-0 win.

Blanc made a number of changes from the side that beat Stade de Reims for the visit of the Greek champions, but he will likely make more changes ahead of the former seven-time defending French title holders.

"The group is in good shape," he revealed during his pre-match press conference on Friday (h/t PSG.fr translated from French as a bilingual):

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Blaise [Matuidi] has a slight viral problem, but we have no major physical concerns. ... Lyon are a good team, with plenty of quality players. If we are not at 100%, then they will cause us problems.

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Ezequiel Lavezzi was handed a rare start in midweek, but he did little to merit keeping his place on Sunday. The Argentine international is up against Lucas Moura and Jeremy Menez for a place in the side, and both have been in better form than El Pocho lately.

In fact, both scored at Reims and were unlucky to miss out against Olympiakos.

Brazilian international Moura has been in improving form of late and boasts three goals and as many assists from just seven starts. Menez has scored twice in four starts coming off the back of a return to fitness following summer surgery.

Both arguably have a stronger case to start in this team than Lavezzi at present, and, despite the Argentine’s impressive work rate and boundless energy, he offers little in the way of a solid contribution. The former SC Napoli man has one solitary strike to his name this campaign, offering no assists and having started as many times as Moura.

That is the obvious change to be made, and, aside from that, Wednesday’s starting XI was almost at full strength.

Given his cameo appearance in midweek, playing an unfamiliar defensive midfield role and providing the assist for Edinson Cavani’s dramatic winner, Marquinhos is perhaps in contention to start in defence.

Alex has been favoured as his compatriot Thiago Silva continues to readjust to the rigours of regular matches having missed a chunk of the season through injury. However, with the Selecao captain now looking fit once again, Blanc may elect to replace the elder Brazilian Alex with the younger Marquinhos.

The 19-year-old recently made his debut for Brazil at senior level, but since then his development has been slowed down by Silva’s return to the side. He won’t want to spend too long on the bench, and the Lyon match could be the perfect opportunity for him to reclaim his place.

One other potential change could come at right-back. Gregory van der Wiel provided yet another sublime assist for Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s opener on Wednesday, but the Dutchman could make way for Christophe Jallet if Blanc decides to rotate certain areas of his side.

French international Jallet performed well against Reims last weekend and was unlucky to lose his place against Olympiakos, even if the choice was later justified by van der Wiel’s assist.

Since losing his place in the side to the Netherlands’ international, the former PSG captain has performed steadily and shown improved discipline. That balanced mentality could benefit the hosts on Sunday against a Lyon side that is threatening out wide.

However, van der Wiel has done little to merit being dropped and should find himself in the starting XI once again, despite Jallet's efforts.

Otherwise, Blanc’s side should be relatively unchanged barring any late injuries.

Maxwell will continue at left-back, with Silva at the heart of the defence and in front of Salvatore Sirigu, who was excellent in Reims. Blaise Matuidi, assuming he recovers from his slight viral problem; Thiago Motta; and Marco Verratti should all start in midfield. That despite the latter’s reckless red card against Olympiakos.

Ibrahimovic and Cavani, who both featured on the same score sheet having been on the pitch together for just the second time this year, will both start up top.

The biggest question, once again, is who does Blanc play alongside the prolific duo?

El Matador and the talismanic Swede have 18 goals between them, and, in terms of numbers as well as the strength of recent performances, Moura is the obvious choice to play alongside the duo. With the Brazilian included, the PSG front line has scored 21 goals between them so far, more than 17 of the 20 teams in Ligue 1 have managed in total this season.