D1 Arkema Week 12 Preview: Paris FC face Issy FF, Montpellier host Saint-Étienne and Fleury 91 travel to Stade Reims as Lyon, PSG and Bordeaux matches are postponed amid Covid-19 cases
More D1 Arkema matches postponed due to Covid-19 cases, with PSG and Bordeaux matches being the latest, leaving the weekend with three matches so far.
Kicking-off this weekend’s round of fixtures, Paris FC host struggling Issy FF at Stade Robert Bobin on Saturday afternoon.
Buoyant after handing FC Lorient a 9-0 drabbing in a Coupe de France féminine Round of 32 fixture last weekend, gaffer Sandrine Soubeyrand will be hoping that the morale helps them to spring to another harvest of goals against the bottom placed Camillo Vaz’s side.
Unbeaten in their last seven contests against Issy FF, the home side will be looking to forward Clara Mateo to provide the goals, having done so with consummate ease this season, boasting an impressive six goal return.
Issy FF, on the other hand, will have their work cut out in trying to shut-out the Coumba Sow-Mathilde Bourdieu-Clara Mateo triumvirate, which has been performing wonders in front of goal.
However, the backline of Océane Daniel, Gwenaelle Butel and Celya Barclais will have to be at its best in order to deny the hosts’ free-scoring forwards a sniff at goal.
In another mouthwatering encounter, fourth ranked Fleury travel to mid-table occupants Stade Reim on Saturday, hoping to carry on their fight for a Champions League spot.
With a solitary defeat in their previous five outings, the Fabrice Abriel coached outfit will be hoping top-markswoman Nicola Karczewska puts another scoring shift, having scored six goals so far in this campaign.
On the other hand, the home side will be out to maintain their renaissance, having gone three matches undefeated across all competitions post their 7-0 humbling at the hands of PSG last November.
Forward Kessya Bussy, with six goals this season, will again be tasked to lead the line in search of victory and will be out to derail the visitors’ search for European football come next season.
Top four hopefuls Montpellier entertain 11th placed Saint-Étienne in another Saturday afternoon kick-off.
Unbeaten in their last six matches and having last tasted defeat mid-October last year to table-toppers Lyon, the hosts will be out to maintain a fine run of form which has seen them rise steadily up the log standings.
Forward Lena Petermann and midfielder Sarah Puntigam, with nine goals between them, will be out to maintain presence amongst the Golden Boot chasers.
Relegation threatened Saint-Étienne will be hoping for a change in fortunes against Montpellier, having gone four games in a row without tasting victory, a run that goes as far as November 2013, including the recent 7-2 Coupe de France féminine Round of 32 fixture thumping at the hands of the hosts.
Fixtures: (Saturday) Paris FC vs Issy FF (14:30hrs); Montpellier vs Saint-Étienne (14:30hrs); Stade Reims vs. Fleury 91 (14:30hrs)
All times are Central European Times (CET)