Run-in enthusiasm reaches fever-pitch as title-chasing Lyon, PSG hunt for maximum points: D1 Arkema Week 19 Preview
Title-chasing Olympique Lyonnais welcome third-ranked Paris FC to Groupama Stadium on Sunday hoping to firm-up defense of the title.
With the home side enjoying an unassailable 12 wins over Paris FC, manager Sonia Bompastor will be hoping her team turns the disappointment of failing to defend their UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) title into some positive energy.
Moreover, the eclectic Bompastor will be hoping for yet another victory having last tasted domestic defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on December 02 of 2022.
Forward Signe Bruun, who is on the resurgence, will be out to provide the goals for her team. Defensive stalwart Wendie Renard, who, together with Bruun, lead Lyon’s scoring charts with six goals, will be aiming to continue with her impressive form in-front of goal.
However, Lyon will be missing the services of trusted goalscorer Ada Hederberg, who was carted on in the 32nd minute of Norway’s 3-3 draw against Sweden during the international break.
Paris FC, on the other hand, will be eager to cushion their lead on Fleury with a win over Lyon as the battle for the final slot for UWCL remains up for grabs.
Striking duo of Mathilde Bourdieu and Clara Matéo, whose 11 and 10 goals respectively have helped Paris FC in their quest for European football come next season, will be out to give the visitors a measure of attacking fire-power.
Meanwhile, second-placed PSG, who trail Lyon by a single point in the race for the title, travel to Stade du Roudourou on Sunday for a date against ninth-placed Guingamp.
Having won nine and drawn two against Guingamp, coach Gérard Prêcheur will be hoping to maintain pressure on Lyon with another win.
With leading scorer Kadidiatou Diani still out due to suspension, attacking midfielder Ramona Bachmann will be eager to increase her six-goal tally this season.
However, Guingamp will be eager to continue steering clear of the relegation waters having won three, drawn once and lost once in their last five matches in the league.
Leading scorer Sarah Cambot, who has six goals in the league this season, will be trusted to lead the search for goals again.
Fleury, who remain within touching distance of a maiden berth in the champions league, host sixth-placed Reims at Stade Louis Blériot N°2 on Saturday.
Having recovered well from a 2-0 beating at the hands of Lyon to collect four points out of a possible six, Fleury will be eager to keep the fight for European football alive.
Fleury go into the match enjoying five wins in their previous six meetings and another win will go a long way in pushing for a third-place finish. Leading scorer Rosemonde Kouassi, who has nine goals this season, will be eager to rediscover her scoring touch having last scored in Fleury’s 6-0 win over Rodez on February 25th.
Reims, on the other hand, have recovered from their 4-0 loss to Paris SG to collect six points from two games.
Strikers Kessya Bussy and Melchie Dumornay, who have scored 14 goals between them this season, will be out to continue scoring.
Montpellier HSC, who ended a four-match winless streak by posting a 5-1 win away to Soyaux-Charente before the international break, travel to Stade de la Roque 1 for a date against Rodez on Sunday.
With an 80% win-rate over Rodez in their last five encounters, in addition to having scored 16:4 goals dating back to October 2017, Montpellier will be out to inflict more misery on the league returnees.
The attacking duo of Nérilia Mondésir and Faustine Robert, who have eight and five goals respectively for La Paillade, will be eager to increase their tallies with all eyes fixed on finishing on a high as they hope to earn a place in Haiti and France women’s national teams for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
On the other hand, Rodez will be eager to mount a late charge for survival as they trail tenth-ranked Dijon.
Rodez’s search for goals will be led by Alexandria Lamontagne, who has scored five goals this season.
Le Havre AC, who are currently ranked seventh on the log, travel to Complexe Sportif DFCO on Saturday for a date against 10th placed Dijon.
Dijon enjoy holding a slight edge on head-to-head having won twice and lost once.
However, Le Havre smashed five goals past Dijon in this weekend’s corresponding fixture back in November.
Attacking pair of Sh'nia Gordon and Kelsey Araújo, whose four goals apiece have been handy in catapulting Le Harve to seventh, will be eager to continue providing the goals for the league returnees.
Meanwhile Dijon will be hoping to continue their fight for survival as they occupy the last slot above relegation-zone. Any slip-up will launch Dijon into the relegation battle.
Eighth-placed Bordeaux welcome relegation-threatened Soyaux-Charente to Stade Sainte-Germaine in one of Saturday's lunchtime triple-header.
Having won seven, drawn one and lost three against Soyaux in their last 10 games, Bordeaux go into the match eager to compound relegation worries on the visitors.
Striker Maelle Garbino, who has scored eight goals this season, will be eager to add more goals as she looks to influence selection of players going to the World Cup.
Soyaux have a big fight on their hands in their quest to survive the dreaded chop.
Click on a match below to follow it Live! on forzafootball.com and on the Forza Football App
Fixtures (Saturday): Reims vs Fleury (14:30); Dijon vs Le Havre (13:45); Bordeaux vs Soyaux-Charente (13:45)
Fixtures (Sunday): En Evant Guingamp vs PSG (12:30); Olympique Lyon vs Paris FC (15:00) Rodez vs Montpellier (15:00)
All times are Central European Time (CET)