Luminous Lyon date Guingamp as PSG continue push for top two slot with date against Montpellier: D1 Arkema Week 9 Preview

·         Paris Saint Germain have been progressing up the ladder with some impressive wins in their recent games

Leaders Lyon, who are yet to drop a point thus far, travel to Stade du Roudourou for a date against Guingamp on Sunday afternoon with the aim of extending their unbeaten streak.

Lyon, buoyed by a 100% record against Guingamp in the past nine matches, roar in this game with a victory top of the agenda as they look to cement their place at the top. 

With goals oozing from every department, another high scoring encounter looks on the cards. The attacking trio of Eugénie Le Sommer (seven goals), Kadidiatou Diani (three goals) and Ada Hegerberg (four goals) will be out to increase their tally against the league’s fifth weakest defence who have a goal difference of minus six.

Guingamp, on the other hand, dire in the D1 Arkema having won two home games at Stade du Roudourou this campaign, will be hoping to finally crack the code against the seemingly unbeatable visitors. 

Manager Mathieu Rufié, will be eager to avoid another shellacking at the hands of Lyon and will hope her rearguard marshalled by Emmy Jézéquel register their third clean sheet of the season.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint Germain, on a four-match winning streak, host Montpellier at Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre on Sunday afternoon.

Having won 11, drawn five and lost two matches against Montpellier since 2014, the hosts will be hoping for another routine win against their fifth-ranked opponents. 

Having posted a last-minute win against Fleury in their previous fixture, coach Joselyn Precheur will be hoping that Tabitha Chawinga (six goals) and an in-form Marie-Antoinette Katoto provide the goals for the former champions.

On the other hand, Montpellier, with one win, three draws and one defeat in the last five matches, will be eager to make the next step as they look to cement their push for elusive European football next year.

Having scored four and conceded eight in their last five matches, coach Yannick Chandioux will be hoping that his side’s recovery from a 5-0 defeat to Lyon continues with a giant-killing act against a resurgent PSG.

Faustine Robert, with four goals and zero assists in 637 minutes, will be hoping to add to her tally after an impressive start to the season which has seen her record an xG of 1.8.

Second-ranked Paris FC, who seem determined to push the big names to the limit this term having enjoyed great success both on the domestic and European fronts, make a trip to Stade Louis Blériot N°1 for a clash against Stade de Reims on Sunday afternoon

Gutsy thus far this season and showing no signs of giving up, Paris will hope to continue with their dominance on Reims which has seen them win six, draw two and lose one.

Having won away four times in as many attempts recently in the league, scoring 18 goals and conceding two, the Parisans will be hoping that the attacking trio of Louise Fleury (six goals), Gaëtane Thiney (five goals) and Julie Dufour (four goals) continues its scoring form as they look to mount a serious championship charge.

On the other hand, Reims, who have had an indifferent start to the season, winning three, drawing two and losing two matches since the onset of the season, will be hoping for a favourable swing of the pendulum in a fixture they have struggled for wins. 

With a goal difference of zero, having scored seven and conceded the same number of goals, coach Amandine Miquel will be hoping for an improvement at both ends of the field.

Fleury, still recovering from a last-minute 2-1 loss to PSG last weekend, host seventh-ranked Le Havre at Stade Robert Bobin on Friday evening.

The hosts have never lost to Le Havre in their past seven meetings and are unbeaten at Stade Robert Bobin this season and another win will firmly be on the menu tonight.

Defender Ewelina Kamczyk, who has been bailing out the forward line with some important goals this season (four), will be eager to continue with her good start to the season.

On the other hand, Le Havre will be hoping for an improvement to their away form which has seen them register one victory on the road this season. 

Having won two and drawn three matches in their last five, the visitors will be eager to make the next leap.

Lille OSC travel to 11^th placed Bordeaux on Saturday. 

Having collected only two points from their previous five matches, a match-up against struggling Bordeaux presents an opportunity to increase their point tally as they try to avoid relegation in their debut season.

Bordeaux, on the other hand, will be looking to earn their first set of full points after having drawn twice thus far this season. 

The home side have lost four of their last five games in the league.

AS Saint-Étienne, who collected their first full set of points thanks to a 2-1 win over debutants LOSC last weekend, will be hoping for another victory when they take on bottom-placed Dijon on Saturday afternoon.

FIXTURES: Friday 24 November, 2023 (22:00) Fleury vs Le Havre

FIXTURES: Saturday 25 November, 2023 (15:30) Bordeaux vs Lille OSC

FIXTURES: Saturday 25 November, 2023 (15:30) Dijon vs AS Saint-Étienne

FIXTURES: Sunday 26 November, 2023 (15:30) Paris SG vs Montpellier

FIXTURES: Sunday 26 November, 2023 (15:30) Reims vs Paris FC

FIXTURES: Sunday 26 November, 2023 (22:00) Guingamp vs Lyon

All Times are Central European Time (CET)