Newly-promoted strugglers Lorient face an enormous challenge as they look to pull clear of the drop zone when they host defending French and European champions PSG.
Match News and Current Form
It was a bruising weekend for Lorient, who were leapfrogged by no fewer than three sides, including Angers, who they lost 2-0 against on Sunday, to fall into Ligue 1’s bottom three. A run of one win in seven matches (D2, L4) has seen all four defeats come by 2+ goal margins and leaves them with their joint-lowest points tally at this stage of a top flight season since being relegated in 2016/17. Olivier Pantaloni’s men can at least cling to seven of their eight points being won on home turf (W2, D1, L1), with that record coming despite conceding a league-high 11 goals there!
PSG returned to the Ligue 1 summit at the weekend by comfortably seeing off Brest 3-0, with that result also stretching their unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions (W4, D2). With a host of injured stars starting to return to action, Luis Enrique’s men appear primed to surge away from the early season contenders, particularly given that they’ve won a league-high ten points on the road (W3, D1, L1). A nine-match winning streak in Wednesday-held Ligue 1 should further boost confidence, with one of those wins coming away at Lorient, albeit that was also where their last such dropped points came in December 2021 (D 1-1)!
Head-to-Head History
Lorient have fared reasonably well in this fixture recently, avoiding defeat in two of the last three H2Hs (W1, D1) but they have lost ten of their last 12 home H2Hs (W1, D1).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Lorient have lost all five games when conceding first this season.
Lorient’s last seven Ligue 1 home games have produced over 2.5 goals.
PSG have won all four of their games against current bottom half sides without conceding.
Ten of PSG’s 19 Ligue 1 goals this term have come within the first 15 minutes of either half.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Six of Aiyegun Tosin’s last eight Lorient goals have come after half-time, including both of his strikes on home soil this season. After two substitute appearances, Ousmane Dembélé could be in line for a PSG start here having netted three times across two previous H2Hs, including a brace in 2023/24’s corresponding fixture.
Lorient look set to be without Bamo Meïté and Bamba Dieng, while PSG midfield duo João Neves and Fabián Ruiz are expected to miss out.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
With the visitors’ squad becoming stronger by the week, backing a PSG -1 handicap victory could be a route to profit.
Author: Ryan Fisher