It could not be much tighter at the top of Ligue 1 with Lille leading by a point over Paris and two over 3rd placed Monaco. Both play on Saturday with Paris kicking off at 1600 against a Lens side desperate to get in to Europe. This should be a fiercely contested game with PSG wanting to go top and Les Sangs Et Ors
wanting to put distance between them and Marseille in 6th. The two teams are separated by goal difference after Marseille's disappointing draw with Strasbourg on Friday night. Les Marseillais would have hoped to win last night to regain 5th place. Lens will be delighted they remain in the Europa League spot with a chance to gain further points this afternoon. Paris will once again have one eye on their midweek Champions League fixture at Man City. The Semi Final 2nd leg is a huge game which they are chasing after losing the first leg at home 2 - 1. As in previous Ligue 1 matches this season none of their players will want to get injured and miss the game at the Etihad Stadium, Kylian Mbappe is carrying a slight calf injury so could Mauricio Pochettino decide to rest him against Lens? Even if he does Paris have plenty of quality in their squad to cope without him. It's likely that Lens will miss their absent players more. The Northerners could still be without there left winger and top goal scorer Gaël Kakuta (11 goals) as he recovers from COVID. They will also be without their regular Centre Half Loïc Badé due to suspension. Lens will go to Paris desperate to get something from the game and actually won the reverse fixture back in September. Will this be the match where Paris drop points in the closing stages of the title race? It will be a close game but I would expect Paris to come out on top.
One to watch: Kylian Mbappe - PSG. If he plays Mbappe will have a point to prove after being kept quiet by Manchester City in the week. The French Sports papers were particularly negative about his Champions League performance so it will be interesting to see how he reacts. Will he coast through the game hoping to avoid injury or will he silence the doubters with a goal or two? However he performs on Saturday he will need to be at his best in Manchester on Tuesday bif PSG are to progress.
Frenchfooty prediction: PSG 2 - Lens 1
PSG V Lens kicks of at 1600 on Saturday 1st May. It is live on BT Sport 2.
After PSG V Lens league leaders Lille may well need to win again to keep top if PSG have already won. Les Dogues host a 9th placed Nice side, too far away to qualify for Europe but in no danger of relegation. Les Aiglons (The Eagles) are in decent form with only one loss in their last five games. Nice have struggled to find consistency this season but they do have goals in their side. Young Striker Amine Gouiri has 12 League goals this campaign. Lille though are in excellent form and on a high after pulling back a two goal deficit at Lyon last week to win 2 - 3 and stay top of the league. Les Dogues have no injuries or suspensions and must be favourites going in to this game.
One to watch: Jonathan David - Lille. Burak Yilmaz rightly won the plaudits for Lille last week after his two goals won the game at Lyon. The young Canadian Striker David though also weighed in with a goal and is having a decent season. He could well add to his 11 goals this season against Nice.
Lille V Nice kicks off at 2000 Saturday 1st May. It is live on BT Sport 3.
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