Ligue 1: Lyon vs PSG Betting Preview, Can PSG Keep Up a Maddening Pace?

Difficult Road Test for PSG

Two of France’s biggest clubs face off on Sunday as Lyon hosts defending Ligue 1 champions PSG. Both teams started off the season well but their form has diverged in recent weeks. PSG comes in on a five-game winning streak in all competitions, three in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, Lyon has lost two straight and is in grave danger of dropping another three points. We’ll review the odds in this Lyon vs. PSG betting preview.

• • • Ligue 1 – Lyon vs. PSG Game Info:
    • Location: Groupama Stadium, Décines-Charpieu, France
    • Date & Time: Sunday, September 18, 2:45 P.M. EST
    • TV: beIN Sports

Head-to-Head

Lyon and PSG have a long history and one of the bigger rivalries in French soccer. The last match between the two teams finished 1-1 in January, at the Groupama Stadium. Any Lyon vs. PSG betting preview should note PSG is unbeaten in the last three meetings. They’ve also won six of the last ten. Lyon won three of the last ten and the other match finished in a draw. What are the Paris Saint Germain odds?

Lyon Perfect at Home

• Last Ligue 1 Match: 2-1 L at Monaco
• Injuries and Suspensions: D Jerome Boateng (Day-to-Day)

Lyon managed to go unbeaten in the first five matches of their Ligue 1 schedule. Now, they’ve dropped their last two matches and have conceded five goals combined in those losses. OL’s home form has been a stark contrast to their road form. They’re still winless away from the Groupama Stadium but are perfect there heading into this weekend.

They’ve also managed to score in each one of their matches so far. Lyon has had a balanced scoring attack this season, with three players on four goals. Alexandre Lacazette, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Tete are their joint-leading scorers.

Lyon has two 19-year-olds in defense who have started all of their matches. Castello Lukeba and Malo Gusto will be in for a very tough test vs. PSG’s star-studded front three. They, Nicolas Tagliafico and Thiago Mendes have only kept one clean sheet so far.

PSG’s Defense Getting it Done

• Last Ligue 1 Match: 1-0 W vs. Brest
• Injuries and Suspensions: G Keylor Navas (Day-to-Day), D Presnel Kimpembe (Out), M Renato Sanches (Day-to-Day)

Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi are global superstars. It’s nearly impossible to talk about PSG without talking about them. However, PSG’s defense has been underappreciated this season. The Parisians deployed four at the back under Mauricio Pochettino but Christophe Galtier has introduced three center backs with wingbacks. It appears to have paid off, as PSG have conceded just four goals in seven Ligue 1 matches.

Captain and center back Marquinhos has been one of the most consistent defenders of the last decade. Sergio Ramos is also in that category but struggled for form and with injuries in his first season at PSG. He’s finally healthy and contributing on a regular basis. Danilo Pereira has also been a steady presence at center back filling in for the injured Presnel Kimpembe. Wingbacks Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes provide significant attacking contributions in addition to their defensive duties.

The Paris Saint-Germain odds priced them at even money to cover the three-goal spread vs. Brest last weekend. However, the Parisians only managed a 1-0 win through a Neymar winner. It was their third consecutive shutout in Ligue 1, though.

Odds & Preview

Our Lyon vs. PSG betting preview notes that PSG is 4-0 on the road, while Lyon is 4-0 at home. Paris Saint-Germain is -160 favorites coming into Sunday, which isn’t too surprising. Combined – Messi, Mbappe, and Neymar are averaging over one goal + assist per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 this season. Neymar has been on an absolute tear this season, with eight goals and six assists.

PSG have won three of the last four matches at Lyon and OL are +350 underdogs. A draw stands at +390 odds and it occurred in the last Lyon vs. PSG fixture. Lyon’s 2-1 loss to Monaco last Sunday wasn’t exactly a shock but last Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to Lorient was a disappointment. Despite their recent slip-ups, underdogs Lyon are favored to cover the one-goal spread, at -120 odds.

The over/under total for the match is listed at 3½  goals. Notably, none of PSG’s last four Ligue 1 matches have had more than three goals scored. Lyon has scored in each of their last six matches vs. PSG. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain hasn’t been shut out since March. Lyon will certainly be up for this match in front of their home fans and will go all out to avoid three straight losses. Stopping PSG’s front three is a different story altogether. They were all on the scoresheet in PSG’s 3-1 Champions League win at Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday.