Ligue 1 action continues on Sunday evening (19:45 BST), as Lille host Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. 

The European champions bounced back from a setback against Marseille with a straightforward win over Auxerre last week and will be keen to consolidate their position after falling level on points with Lyon. 

Lille have struggled for consistency and will be desperate to halt a slide that has seen them lose their last two league games. 

Team form

PSG endured a hectic summer, finishing as runners-up in the FIFA Club World Cup before beating Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup on penalties. Despite the taxing schedule, Luis Enrique’s side carried that momentum into the new season, recording wins against Nantes, Angers, Toulouse and Lens. 

Their unbeaten run came to an end against Marseille two weeks ago, but a 2-0 home win over Auxerre got them back on track. The Parisians will need to manage fatigue carefully, especially after their midweek Champions League clash with Barcelona, but the squad’s quality means they remain heavy favourites.

Lille have had a mixed start to the season. After opening with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brest, they won three consecutive games against Monaco, Lorient and Toulouse. However, inconsistency has crept in, with defeats to Lens and Lyon leaving them sixth in the Ligue 1 table. 

Bruno Genesio’s men will be aware of their recent struggles, and hosting PSG represents both a challenge and an opportunity to climb back up the table. 

Head-to-head

History favours PSG in this fixture. The Parisians have won four of the last five meetings with Lille, with just one draw breaking their dominance. 

Lille’s last league win over PSG came in 2021, a 1-0 victory in the capital, and they have failed to beat the French champions in eight consecutive league encounters. 

Goals are usually plentiful when these sides meet. Both teams have scored in the last eight league clashes, with six of those ties producing four or more goals.

Team news

Lille could be without a number of key players, including Alexsandro, Thomas Meunier, Benjamin André and Romain Perraud, which may leave gaps in defence and midfield.

PSG face an even longer injury list. Ballon D’Or winner Ousmane Dembele is continuing his rehabilitation in Qatar after sustaining an injury with France, while Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia picked up knocks in the Auxerre win. 

Marquinhos and Desire Doue are also unavailable, leaving Luis Enrique without several star players and a potential selection headache. 

Key stats

• Lille have averaged 2.2 goals per game in Ligue 1 this season.

• Felix Correia has been the provider of goals for Lille, with three assists in six matches.

• Bradley Barcola has scored three goals in five games for PSG.

• PSG have averaged two goals per match in Ligue 1 so far this season.

• Both teams have scored in each of the last eight league meetings, with six producing four or more goals.

Prediction

With a host of injuries and a taxing schedule, this is unlikely to be straightforward for PSG. However, the Parisians have the superior squad and a strong record against LOSC to fall back on. The quality within Enrique’s ranks should be enough to secure a hard-fought win.