PSG seek to swing title race with visit to lowly Guingamp as Lyon face ambitious Bordeaux: D1 Arkema Week 14 Preview
After a field day in which they put a quintet of goals past a leaky AS Saint-Étienne rear guard, with a hattrick from leading goal-scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto, PSG will be hoping to crank the pressure at the apex of the log when they make a trip to the Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre for a date with ninth-placed Guingamp on Saturday.
Boasting an impressive nine-some of matches with only one goal conceded at most in a row vs Guingamp, a streak dating back to 30 September 2017, PSG will be eager to resume normal business at the back which has seen their defense keep four clean sheets post the 6-1 loss to Lyon on 14 November last year.
Katoto, leading the goal charts with an unparalleled 14 goals across all competitions for the reigning champions, will be eager to dominate the goals again this weekend having done so with consummate ease throughout the domestic campaign.
Guingamp, on the other hand, will be searching for a league victory which has evaded them having recorded just two league wins since 10 September last year, a streak which has also seen them register four draws and five defeats during that period.
With a difficult task of Himalayan proportions awaiting them this weekend, another defeat will see them plunge deeper into relegation murky waters.
Elsewhere, after a hard-fought 2-3 victory over Montpellier HSC in which they had to snatch a victory at the death thanks to a Griedge Mbock Bathy 89thminute right-footed strike, pacesetters Lyon will be looking to continue their spell at the top when they host Bordeaux at the Stade Gérard Houillier 1 in Sunday’s only match.
With just a solitary head-to-head defeat in their last dozen of matches against the visitors, Sonia Bompastor’s side are bookmakers’ favorites to claim a routine victory against sixth-placed Bordeaux.
Spurred by the arrival of American forward Lindsey Horan on loan from Portland Thorns FC, the hosts will be eager to give her warm welcome.
Smarting from a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Paris SG in the Coupe de France féminine Round of 16 on Saturday, Lyon will be hoping that the trio of Ada Hegerberg, Catarina Macário and Melvine Malard with 19 goals amongst them this season, will rediscover their shooting prowess and lead the home stretch.
Bordeaux, on the other hand, will be banking on forward Katja Snoeijs, boasting a fruitful spell in front of goal which has seen her bag four goals in the last two D1 Arkema matches, to provide the goals.
A victory for Patrice Lier’s side will stand them in good stead in their quest for at top six finish come the end of the season.
Kicking off this week’s D1 Arkema proceedings is a contest between top-four hopefuls FC Fleury 91 and Montpellier HSC at Stade Auguste Gentelet N°2 on Friday evening.
Having posted a smash and grab 1-0 victory over Stade de Reims in their last fixture courtesy of a Grace Ngok Yango right-footed late strike, the hosts will be eager to continue from where they left off.
With forward and lynchpin Nikola Karczewska dominating the goals for the Fabrice Abriel coached side with six goals so far this season, its gloves off in the fight for a top four finish.
Montpellier, who have an impressive five consecutive wins in a row away from home, since 30 October 2021, will be hoping to continue that streak as they look to take the fight for a top-four finish down to the wire.
Having given log leaders a run for their money in the previous fixture with a 2-3 loss, Yannick Chandioux will be hoping his charges have enough spring in their step to go toe to toe with their opponents.
With forward Léna Petermann proving a handful for many defensive units and also having recently bagged a brace against Lyon, the visitors will be hoping that their gunslinger adds to the seven goals she has scored so far in this campaign.
Champions league hopefuls Paris FC entertain 11th placed AS Saint-Étienne at Stade Robert Bobin on Saturday in a match in which the side from the capital will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of European football next season.
Having made Stade Robert Bobin their fortress, Sandrine Soubeyrand’s side will be out to maintain their strangle hold on third sport.
Forward Clara Mateo, with eight goals this season, will be tasked to lead the line again in the home side’s quest to carry on with a streak which has seen them go 10 matches with at least one goal scored per match in a row at home since 24 April 2021.
Meanwhile, AS Saint-Étienne, reeling from 10 consecutive matches without a win since 02 October 2021, will be eager for some damage control in their fight for survival.
Forward Ijeoma Okoronkwo, with three goals this season, will be tasked with the hunt for goals.
Stade de Reims entertain tail-enders and relegation threatened GPSO 92 ISSY at the Stade Louis Blériot N°2 in Saturday’s last kick-off.
Smarting from a 3-1 humbling at the hands of FC Girodins de Bordeaux in a match that condemned them to seventh on the log, the hosts will be eager to quickly return to winning ways.
Forward Kessya Bussy, sitting on six goals this campaign, will be tasked with providing the goals to add another game to their three consecutive wins in a row versus Issy.
Issy, with seven matches in a row without scoring a goal in D1 Arkema since 30 October 2021, will be eager for a change in fortunes.
Dijon Football Côte d'Or host 10th placed ASJ Soyaux Charente at the Stade des Poussots 1 on Saturday with the hope of stepping away from the performance of their last two fixtures which has seen them post identical 1-1 draws against En Evant Guingamp and FC Girodins de Bordeaux.
Forward Desire Oparanozie, with two goals in the last two matches and five this season, will be hoping to continue with her rich vein of form.
Meanwhile Soyaux Charente will be hoping for a victory, a result which they have tasted only twice this campaign.
FIXTURES (Friday): Fleury 91 vs. Montepellier (20:45)
FIXTURES (Saturday): Guigamp vs. PSG (14:30); Dijon vs. Soyaux-Charente (14:30); Paris FC vs. Saint-Étienne (14:30); Stade Reims vs. Issy FF (16:35)
FIXTURES (Sunday): Lyon vs. Bordeaux (14:45)
All times are Central European Time (CET)