Lyon look to march on as PSG face Paris FC in potential ‘banana skin’ tie: D1 Arkema Week 20 Preview

Table-toppers Olympique Lyonnais travel to Stade Gaston-Gérard for a date against 10th placed Dijon FCO on Saturday afternoon.

Sonia Bompastor’s side will be looking to firm-up their title-charge as any slip-up will see Paris Saint-Germain seize the initiative in this year’s tightly-contested championship race.

Having won seven, drawn two and lost two in the series, the reigning champions will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of another fruitful away day.

Lyon have lost once and drawn once this season and in addition have won all of their last five matches going into this fixture.

Signe Bruun, who has seven goals to her name in the league and on a surge recently, will be looking to provide the goals again this weekend. Goalkeeper Christiane Endler, who enjoys a 78,8% save percentage and has claimed the most clean sheets (10) in the league this season with consummate ease, will be out to guard her goal.

On the other hand, Dijon have lost four and drawn once in their last five games, a development that has seen them plunge into the relegation fight.

Meanwhile, second-placed title-hopefuls PSG will be eager to crank the pressure on Lyon when they welcome cross-city rivals Paris FC to Stade Municipal Georges Lefèvre in Saturday's last match.

Boasting a win-rate of 10 wins and one draw against Paris FC, Les Parisans will be hoping to inflict more derby misery on their city-rivals.

With the division’s leading goal-scorer Kadidiatou Diani, who enjoys 17 goals and seven assists in 1360 minutes this season, returning from suspension, Paris FC will have their hands full in trying to shut her out.

Mathilde Bourdieu, who has 11 goals and two assists in 1030 minutes, will be eager to keep the PSG backline busy as she looks to finish the campaign on a high and also boost her chances of a place in Havre Renard’s roster at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July this year.

Third-placed Fleury 91 will play host to fifth-ranked Montpellier in another match that promises fireworks on Saturday afternoon at the Stade Robert Bobin.

Having won once, drawn twice and lost thrice in the recent six games, Fleury will be hoping to turn the tide on Montpellier as they look to lock down a place in the Champions League come next year.

Striker Rosemonde Kouassi, who has nine goals and four assists in 1286 minutes of play this season, will be eager to get back to scoring regularly for the hosts.

On the other hand, Montpellier will be eager to narrow the gap on the last UWCL place as they trail Fleury by four points. Enjoying a better win-rate against their weekend’s opponents, the visitors will be eager to inflict more pain on Fleury.

Haitian import Nerilia Mondesir will be eager to lead the goal charge for her team. With eight goals and one assist in 1522 minutes of play this campaign, another good day in the office will be on the menu for the Haitian international.

A mid-table contest sees seventh-placed Le Havre do battle against sixth-placed Stade de Reims at Stade Océane on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors enjoy a 100% win-rate having won all the three the games played between the two teams.

With forward Kessya Bussy – who has starred in front of goal with eight goals and six assists in 1243 minutes – in the team, manager Amandine Miquel will be hoping to have her team score more goals in this mid-table clash.

A victory will be key in ensuring the team recovers from a hard-hitting 3-1 loss at the hands of Fleury in the previous matchday.

Le Havre, on the other hand, will be eager to continue with their recent upsurge in form which has seen them collect 10 points from a possible 15 in their last five matches.

Leading scorer Kelsey Araújo, whose five goals and one assist in 1091 minutes, will be eager to score more goals as she looks to cement her place in Portugal’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Eighth-ranked Bordeaux make a trip to Stade Paul Lignon for a date against relegation-threatened Rodez on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors boast three wins, three draws and one loss in the seven games played so far thus a win will be key in ensuring a respectable finish in the league.

Leading striker Maëlle Garbino, who is enjoying a fruitful season which has seen her score nine goals and assist another in 1511 minutes, will be out to maintain her goal scoring touch going into the business end of the season.

A place in the plane to Australia and New Zealand for the summer FIFA Women’s World Cup with France will also serve as extra motivation for Garbino.

On the other hand, survival will feature prominently on Rodez’s to-do list during this time of the season.

Canadian forward Alexandria Lamontagne will be tasked with providing the goals for Rodez. Alexandria leads the scoring charts for Rodez with five goals in 1324 minutes.  

Bottom-placed Soyaux-Charente, whose fate seems to be sealed in terms of relegation, host ninth-placed Guingamp on Saturday afternoon.

Guingamp, who have won six, lost four and drawn two in the recent past, will be out to maintain dominance on Soyaux, who seem to be on their last legs.

Forward Sarah Cambot, who has six goals and one assist in 1571 minutes, will be eager to finish the season strongly.

A win for Guingamp will see them confirm their safety.

Soyaux will have their work cut-out in trying to survive the inevitable.

Fixtures (Saturday): Fleury vs  Montpellier (12:30); Rodez vs Bordeaux (12:30) Le Havre vs Reims (12:30);  Soyaux-Charente vs En Evant Guingamp (12:30) Dijon vs Olympique Lyon (12:30)

Fixtures (Sunday): PSG vs Paris FC (14:00)

All times are Central European Time (CET)