PSG v Lyon: Champions face injury-hit test against Ligue 1 leaders

Paris Saint-Germain host Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes on Sunday as Ligue 1’s top two meet on the final day of the eighth round, with both sides level on 14 points.

Lyon lead on goal difference after beating Nice 2-1 last weekend, while Paris Saint-Germain moved into second place with a 3-1 victory over Strasbourg. The champions have won their past seven matches in all competitions and are also leading the league phase of the Champions League.

Their recent run has included emphatic 4-2 wins against Manchester City and FC Barcelona. The victory over Barcelona came this week, but it came at a cost, with several important PSG players suffering injuries.

Paris Saint-Germain have scored 14 goals in three Champions League matches this season, the joint-highest total over that period alongside Arsenal in 2010-11. They have also scored 14 times in Ligue 1, the second-best figure in the top flight after seven rounds, with half of those goals coming from set pieces.

Since losing 2-1 at home to Monaco in early September, PSG have won their past three competitive matches in the capital by an aggregate score of 13-3. Their strong form has continued despite protests, riots and curfews in Paris this week.

Lyon’s fine league campaign has also taken place against a difficult backdrop, with student demonstrations in the city developing into riots. Paulo Fonseca’s side have collected four points from losing positions in Ligue 1 this season, all at home.

However, Lyon suffered their first Europa League defeat of the campaign on Thursday, losing 3-0 to Hoffenheim. They have conceded six goals in that competition’s league phase, one more than they have allowed in Ligue 1 after seven matches.

The visitors have kept clean sheets in two of their three away league games this season. They can avoid successive away defeats in Ligue 1 for the first time since February-March last season, while a second consecutive league win at Paris Saint-Germain would be their first this century.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected to miss the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury. Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos are sidelined for several weeks with thigh problems, while Nuno Mendes is unavailable because of a muscle issue. Alessandro Longoni is doubtful after taking a knock.

Desire Doue has scored in each of his past three competitive appearances. He, Ousmane Dembele and Illia Zabarnyi scored against Strasbourg, while Lucas Hernandez, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz were on target against Barcelona alongside Doue.

Lyon could be without Mohamed Ouedraogo and Nicolas Tagliafico, who have knee injuries. Keito Nakamura is suspended following his red card against Nice, while Pavel Sulc and Tanner Tessmann scored in quick succession to overturn Elye Wahi’s opener in that match.

Probable teams

Paris Saint-Germain: Safonov; Zaire-Emery, Zabarnyi, Beraldo, Digne; Fernandez, Vitinha, Ruiz; Akliouche, Torres, Doue.

Lyon: Descamps; Athekame, Mata, Niakhate, Abner; Morton, Tessmann; Nuamah, Nartey, Tolisso; Sulc.

Despite their absences, PSG’s squad is expected to provide enough depth to secure another victory. The listed predictions are a Paris Saint-Germain win with fewer than 4.5 goals at 1.92, Ferran Torres to score at 1.98 and Magnhnes Akliouche to provide a decisive contribution at 1.82.