Champions Lyon date Le Havre as PSG square-off against Bordeaux as fight for title hots-up: D1 Arkema Week 8 Preview

Action resumes in D1 Arkema this week after a 13-day break as title-chasing duo Olympique Lyonnais and Paris-Saint Germain aim to recover from matchday seven 0-0 and 2-2 draws against En Evant Guingamp and Montpellier HSC respectively

Champions Lyon date Le Havre as PSG square-off against Bordeaux as fight for title hots-up: D1 Arkema Week 8 Preview
Daniëlle van de Donk will be looking to extend her goal tally of three as Lyon seek to bounce back from a nil-all draw against En Evant Guingamp before the international break / © Photo by Jonathan Moscrop / Getty Images

Log leaders Lyon on Sunday square off against sixth-placed Le Havre, who seem to be holding their own amongst the big-guns.

Sonia Bompastor will be aiming for a quick return to winning ways having endured a frustrating share of the points in Pabu a fortnight ago.

With Lyon’s leading goal-getters, midfielder Daniëlle van de Donk and attacker Lindsey Horan, who are on three goals apiece so far this campaign, seemingly on a dry spell, the reigning champions will be eager to get their frontline firing again.

On the other hand, Le Havre will be eager to regain momentum having crumbled to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of FC Fleury 91 before the international break.

Midfield duo of Laura Rueda and Salomé Elisor, whose two goals apiece have been handy in giving the league debutants a desired good start to life on the big stage, will be hoping to return amongst the goals.

Elsewhere, second-placed PSG will be rubbing their hands when then visit struggling Les Girondins on Sunday.

Spearhead and captain Kadidiatou Diani, who sits pretty on top of the goal-scorers’ charts with six goals in the league, will aim to continue to add to her impressive goal scoring spell. Having watched winger Sandy Baltimore and summer midfield recruit Jackie Groenen hog the goal scoring limelight in their 2-2 stalemate against Montpellier on matchday seven, the leading striker will look to quickly return amongst the goals for PSG.

For the hosts, striker Maelle Garbino’s scoring exploits which has seen her bag five goals in seven matches will be of great motivation for them having enjoyed a swift return to form which has seen them bag four points from a possible six in their last two matches.

Third-placed Paris FC visit league strugglers En Avant Guingamp who sit at the bottom of the standings with only a point on board from seven games.

A victory will surely be on the menu in the Saturday fixture for the side from the capital having labored to a 1-1 draw against Bordeaux two weeks ago.

Striker Mathilde Bourdieu, who is slowly but surely returning to form, will be eager to add to the four goals she has scored so far this season.

On the other hand, Guingamp will be looking to take the next step after having held giants Lyon to a 1-1 draw.

Goals have been scarce for the bottom side but the pair of defender Laurie Teinturier and midfielder Anissa Lahmari will be hoping to feature amongst the goals having bagged one goal each so far this season.

Fourth-placed Montpellier HSC host 10th ranked ASJ Soyaux-Charente at Stade Bernard Gasset Terrain n°7 on Saturday hoping to inflict more misery on interim coach Samuel Fau’s side.

Leading strikers Nérilia Mondésir and Faustine Robert, who have scored five and three goals respectively this season, will be hoping to keep dominating the goals for Montpellier.

Having struggled for maximum points, bagging only a single point form a possible six, the home side will be aiming to dust themselves up and put their promising season back on track.

For the visitors, it will be a task of Himalayan proportions to try and salvage their faltering season.

Having constantly struggled for goals this season, with five players including the likes of midfielders Stéphanie Gbogou and Jessy Roux sitting on one goal each, the search is on for consistency in front of goal.

Fifth-placed Stade de Reims welcome debutants Rodez Aveyron Football in Bétheny on Saturday with all eyes on the victory.

A return to winning ways will truly feature on the menu and striker Melchie Dumornay, who has three goals this season, will be tasked to lead the line in the hosts’ latest attempt to bag maximum points. Another player on three goals, defender Julie Pasquereau, will be eager to contribute on both ends of the pitch.

Dijon Football Côte d'Or and FC Fleury 91 battle it out at Stade des Poussots 1 on Saturday with the latter aiming to continue with their recovery which has seen them collect three points in the last three matches.

Striker Rosemonde Kouassi, who returns from her second suspension of the season, will be hoping to make a goal scoring return having netted four so far this season. Striker Ode Fulutudilu, who filled in for Kouassi, will also be pushing for a starting place having announced her presence with a goal against Le Havre.

Dijon, on the other hand, will aim to continue with their own recovery having collected four points from their last two matches.

Strikers Roselord Borgella and Madeline Roth, who have four goals between them thus far, will be out to lead their team’s search for goals.

Click on a match below to follow it Live! on forzafootball.com and on the Forza Football App

FIXTURES: Saturday 19 November, 2022 (15:30) Montpellier HSC vs ASJ Soyaux-Charente

FIXTURES: Saturday 19 November, 2022 (15:30) En Avant Guingamp vs. Paris FC

FIXTURES: Saturday 19 November, 2022 (15:30) Dijon Football Côte d'Or vs FC Fleury 91

FIXTURES: Saturday 19 Movember, 2022 (15:30) Stade de Reims vs Rodez Aveyron Football

FIXTURES: Sunday 20 November, 2022 (15:00) FC Girondins de Bordeaux vs. Paris Saint-Germain FC

FIXTURES: Sunday 20 November, 2022 (17:00) Olympique Lyonnais vs. Le Havre AC

All Times are Central European Time (CET)