PSG, Lyon seek domestic renaissance as European campaign takes a tumble: D1 Arkema Week 6 Preview
With their season well and truly on track despite a string of below par performances both on the domestic and the European front, Paris Saint-Germain will be hoping to continue building on the serenity that has characterized their camp when they visit Stade Auguste-Delaune II for a date with Stade de Reims on Saturday.
Spearhead Kadidiatou Diani will be hoping to increase her season goal tally having endured a frustrating 45 minutes against Dijon a fortnight ago.
Added to that barren show, the failure to convert from the four shots on target recorded in their midweek UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) affair away to Real Madrid, PSG frontline will be hoping to be back amongst the goals.
The hosts, on the other hand, will be eager to register only their second win against the side from the capital having won once in their last five fixtures against the visitors.
Defensive-rock Julie Pasquereau, spurred by her lethal form in-front of goal with three goals so far this campaign, will be hoping to be effective on both ends in her quest to lead the hosts to victory.
Elsewhere, title-holders Olympique Lyonnais entertain seventh-placed FC Fleury 91 at Stade Gérard Houllier 1 in the only match penciled for Sunday.
Boasting an impressive 89%-win rate against the visitors in their nine matches, with the visitors only having an isolated share of the points to show for it, Lyon will be eager to compound more misery on Fleury, who have a single victory from five games this season.
With goals seemingly pouring from all angles for Les Gones, albeit only on the domestic front, with midfielders Daniëlle van de Donk and Lindsey Horan leading the charge with three goals apiece this season, Sonia Bompastor will be eager to turn the frustration of their faltering European campaign into motivation.
Lyon drew 1-1 with Juventus on Thursday in a UWCL match where they dominated after Horan broke through in the 23rd minute only to concede in the 52nd minute through an own goal from forward Malvine Malard.
FC Fleury 91, on the other hand, will be banking on the in-form striker Rosemonde Kouassi to lead the line against a miserly Lyon rearguard which has let in only four goals this season.
Inconsistent Montpellier play hosts to Paris FC on Friday night in this week’s top four clash.
With only a point separating the two sides, it will be all to fight for and the hosts will be banking on home advantage.
Leading goal-scorer Nérilia Mondésir, whose four goals have been pivotal for Montpellier in their quest for glory this season, will be tasked to lead the search for goals.
On the other hand, Paris FC leading striker Mathilde Bourdieu, who looks to be finding goal-scoring form with two of her three goals in total coming from the last game against Stade de Reims, will be eager to dominate the home side’s defence.
Surprise package Le Havre AC welcome fellow D1 Arkema debutants Rodez on Saturday in a match that sees both teams meeting each other for the first-time in a professional match.
With both sides buoyant having posted victories in their last fixtures, a victory for either side will go a long way in cementing their place amongst the big-girls.
FC Girondins de Bordeaux battle it out against struggling En Avant Guingamp at home on Saturday with the hosts hoping to get back to winning ways having endured a frustrating month in which they have bagged a single point from a possible 12.
Bordeaux striker Maelle Garbino, who started the season like a house on fire, will be eager to add to the three goals registered in the first two matches of the season.
The visitors, on the other hand, will have their work cut out as they seek to post their first victory of the season. They have scored a single goal this season courtesy of a strike from midfielder Laurie Teinturier a fortnight ago.
Having endured a torrid start to the season, ninth-placed Dijon Football Côte d'Or entertain fellow struggling outfit ASJ Soyaux-Charente on Saturday hoping for a change in fortunes.
Striker Madeline Roth will be out to increase her tally of two goals scored so far this season.
On the other hand, ASJ Soyaux-Charente will be eager to guard their goal having conceded 11 goals thus far.
FIXTURES: Friday 28 October, 2022 (21:00) Montpellier HSC vs. Paris FC
FIXTURES: Saturday 29 October, 2022 (14:30) FC Girondins de Bordeaux vs. En Avant Guingamp
FIXTURES: Saturday 29 October, 2022 (14:30) Dijon Football Côte d'Or vs. ASJ Soyaux-Charente
FIXTURES: Saturday 29 October, 2022 (14:30) Stade de Reims vs. Paris Saint-Germain FC
FIXTURES: Saturday 29 October, 2022 (14:30) Le Havre AC vs. Rodez Aveyron Football
FIXTURES: Sunday 30 October, 2022 (13:45) Olympique Lyonnais vs. FC Fleury 91