Searing Lyon out for Montpellier's scalp as they look to make 13 unbeaten: D1 Arkema Week 13 Preview

High-flying Lyon, undefeated in 12 matches this season, make a trip to fourth-placed Montpellier on Sunday, as they look to fortify their place at the top of the log.

Having emerged victorious in all their matches this season, beating all and sundry and enjoying undoubtedly their best season in recent history, the reigning champions will be out to march ahead as they look to give themselves more breathing space at the top of the log. 

The visitors have never lost against Montpellier in all the 11 matches they have faced each other.

With striker Ada Hegerberg in some fine scoring form this season, having netted nine goals and assisted once in 500 minutes in the division so far this season, Lyon look spoilt for choice in front of goal, with Eugénie Le Sommer (seven goals) and Lindsay Horan (six goals) all eager to add to their season’s tallies. Ada is the division’s leading goal scorer this campaign.

On the other hand, Montpellier, in good form in D1 Arkema, having won four games and drawn one at home at the Stade Bernard Gasset Terrain n°7, will be eager to continue with that streak and take points from the log-leaders. 

The home team will be looking to keep their push for Europe alive.

Striker Faustine Robert, whose six goals in 1035 minutes in the league this season, will be rubbing her hands at the prospect of breaching the division’s meanest defence. 

Meanwhile, high-flying Paris Saint-Germain, buoyed by their 4-0 win over Stade de Reims in a rearranged matchday four fixture which saw them open a four-point lead on city rivals Paris FC, play league anchor Bordeaux at Campus PSG on Sunday afternoon.

With the home team enjoying a streak of 13 wins, three draws and zero defeats against Bordeaux in the 15 matches played between the two thus far, both eyes will be on another victory to firm-up their fight for the crown come the end of the season.

Striker Tabitha Chawinga, who has contributed seven goals and as many assists in 797 minutes in the league, will be rubbing her hands at the prospect of another field day against the division’s third weakest defence. 

With their defence ranking second behind only Lyon, having conceded seven goals, Joselyn Precheur will be out to put out a team drilled for another shut-out.

On the other hand, Bordeaux will have their work cut out trying to contain PSG and have a huge task of Himalayan proportions in their fight to survive the dreaded drop to the unfashionable lower leagues of French football.

Paris FC, who seem to have lost ground in their fight for second-place to city rivals PSG on the back of having lost two games on the bounce for the first time this season, take on seventh-placed Le Havre at Stade Charléty on Friday to kick-off this weekend’s proceedings.

Buoyant after a 3-0 win over Bordeaux in the Coupe de France last weekend, that at the back of a 1-0 defeat to Lyon in the league, the home team will be eager to keep pressure on PSG for second-place. 

Paris FC, who have won four matches, drawn one and lost one against Le Havre in the six times the teams have played, go into the match eager to continue with their dominance over the Romain Djoubri coached side. 

Midfielder Gaëtane Thiney, who is proving to be too hot to handle for many a defensive unit in the league with nine goals and three assist in 1209 minutes of football this season, will be eager to continue with her talismanic performance this season. Ably assisted by Louise Fleury, who has six goals and four assists (10G/A), Thiney will look to continue with the telepathic understanding with the former.

On the other hand, Le Havre, who have won once, drawn thrice and lost once in their last five fixtures in the league, will be eager to continue pushing up the log. 

Midfielder Inès Benyahia, whose four goals and two assists in 760 D1 Arkema minutes have been pivotal in ensuring Le Havre push up the table this season, will be out in full force as she looks to increase her tally.

Sitting fifth and pushing hard for a strong claim for a top four finish, Stade de Reims play tenth-placed Guingamp at home at Stade Louis Blériot N°1 on Saturday afternoon.

Fresh from a 4-0 defeat to PSG and having collected seven points out of a possible 15 in their last five games, Reims will be banking on home support to propel them to victory. 

Boasting a joint-first in the number of clean sheets, with goalkeeper Kinga Szemik tied on six with Lyon’s Christiane Endler, the home team go into the match with the pendulum in their favour. 

Reims will be looking to improve their return against Guingamp having won three in their past 10 meetings.

Guingamp will be eager for a win as they look to climb up from 10th place. With a solitary point on the board from a possible 15, stakes are heavily against the visitors.

Sixth-placed FC Fleury 91, who have registered one win in their last five matches, travel to Stade Salif Keita to take-on eighth-ranked Saint-Étienne in a mid-table clash. 

Seemingly feeding-off scraps, having amassed four points from a possible 15 in the last five games and their full points coming from their recent previous fixture against ninth-placed Dijon, a return to consistency will truly be on the cards for Fabrice Abriel and his troops. 

The results of the last two fixtures, two games in which they scored seven and conceded nil in league and cup ties, will provide a springing board for Fleury as they look to Polish striker Ewelina Kamczyk (six goals and four assists) to continue with her goal involvements. 

With a 100%-win rate in the three matches played against the home team, Fleury will be eager to continue with their dominance in the fixture.

On the other hand, Saint-Étienne, one of the five in-form teams in the league with two wins on the trot, will be out to maintain their ascendancy. 

Dijon, number nine on the standings, travel to Complexe Sportif Stadium 2 for a date with 11th placed Lille OSC.

With seven points from a possible 15 in their last five fixtures, Dijon will be out to do a number on the league debutants. 

On the other hand, for LOSC, without a point in their last five league games, the aim will be to start collecting points if they entertain hopes of surviving the drop come the end of the season.

FIXTURES: Friday 19 January, 2024 (22:00) Paris FC vs Le Havre 

FIXTURES: Saturday 20 January, 2024 (15:30) Reims vs Guingamp vs 

FIXTURES:  Saturday 20 January 2024 (15:30) AS Saint-Étienne vs Fleury 

FIXTURES: Saturday 20 January (15:30) Lille OSC vs Dijon

FIXTURES:  Saturday 20 January (17:00) Paris SG vs Bordeaux 

FIXTURES: Sunday 21 January (22:00) Lyon vs Montpellier