Ligue 1: PSG Vs Lorient – Match preview

Despite the recent wobbles, PSG remain firmly on course to tie St Étienne as the most successful team in French top-flight history with a tenth Ligue 1 title.

PSG

Paris Saint-Germain will need to rally quickly after a 3-0 defeat at Monaco before the international break marked their heaviest loss in Ligue 1 since April 2019, in turn making it three losses over their last four games which included a painful Champions League exit. Boss Mauricio Pochettino blasted his side after the Monaco debacle, saying “the way we lost is not acceptable at this level of competition”, so he’ll welcome a return to the Parc des Princes where they are unbeaten this Ligue 1 campaign. Despite the recent wobbles, PSG remain firmly on course to tie St Étienne as the most successful team in French top-flight history with a tenth Ligue 1 title. Like true champions-elect, PSG boast a solid defence which has kept a clean sheet in 57 per cent of their home league outings.

They’re unsurprisingly prolific scorers too and have enjoyed playing Lorient in recent years, with the Parisians scoring at least twice in their last six Ligue 1 home H2Hs against ‘Les Merlus’. Unsurprisingly, their last home defeat to Lorient came back in August 2011.

Lorient

While Lorient remain embroiled in a relegation battle, their fortunes are beginning to improve after a goalless draw against Strasbourg last time out made it five unbeaten Ligue 1 games from their last seven outings. Not only did that run see Lorient record five of their nine clean sheets in Ligue 1 this campaign, but it also took them out of the drop zone ahead of the international break. After winning their last two Ligue 1 road trips, Lorient will now attempt to do something they haven’t done since December 2013, record three straight away wins in the top flight! With a win and a draw recorded in their last two matches against PSG, and considering the hosts’ current form, an upset might not be so far-fetched.

If PSG’s Lionel Messi fails to score here it would mark the first time since February 2008 that he would have gone eight competitive games without a goal at club level. Arriving at Lorient in January, Ibrahima Kone has contributed to a win in his three goalscoring Ligue 1 matches so far. PSG have scored more goals after the 80th minute than any other Ligue 1 side this season (13).