Resuming their quest for the obligatory Ligue 1 title, Paris Saint-Germain head north to take on Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday.
Luis Enrique's side have already marched to Trophee des Champions and Coupe de France successes in 2024, while their hosts are out to avoid a third successive loss in all tournaments.
Match preview
© Reuters
For the second time in the space of two seasons, Lens and PSG will kick off their calendar years with an intriguing showdown in front of the fervent Sang et Or faithful, and their New Year's Day battle in 2023 saw Franck Haise's men run out 3-1 winners over the capital powerhouses.
Lens were only denied title glory by a solitary point last season, but 12 months later, Haise's men are fighting an uphill battle to even retain their European status, and one avenue to continental competition for 2024-25 has already been closed off.
Indeed, despite fighting back from 2-0 down to force penalties in their Coupe de France third-round battle with Monaco on January 7, Lens failed to hold their nerve from 12 yards, as while a quintet of Merlus penalties flew into the net, no fewer than four players fluffed their lines.
Lens' premature cup exit succeeded a dampening 2-0 loss to Nice - who have taken on the role of PSG's closest challengers amid the hosts' current predicament - and Haise's side enter gameweek 18 sitting seventh in the table, five points outside the top four.
All is not lost for Lens when it comes to competing for silverware this term - a Europa League knockout-round playoff tie against Freiburg is on the agenda for February - and they welcome PSG to their intimidating headquarters on a four-game home winning streak in the French top flight.
© Reuters
While Lens have already been left to rue what could have been in the Coupe de France, PSG did not rest on their laurels during a total mismatch against sixth-tier US Revel, who were the victims of a 9-0 annihilation at the hands of Luis Enrique's merciless crop.
On what was a record-breaking evening for Kylian Mbappe - who became PSG's all-time highest scorer in the Coupe de France with a scintillating hat-trick - Randal Kolo Muani (2), Goncalo Ramos, Marco Asensio and Cher Ndour also contributed to the destruction of Revel, which game four days after Les Parisiens won a record-extending 12th Trophee des Champions with success over Toulouse on home soil.
Following more unwelcome revelations about the future of Mbappe - whose entourage have shot down reports of a long-rumoured agreement with Real Madrid - the Ligue 1 champions recommence their bid for title stardom sat five points clear at the top, a lead which could be cut down to two if Nice overcome Rennes on Saturday.
The demolition of Revel also marked PSG's 10th match in a row without defeat in all competitions, and an even better streak without an away loss in Ligue 1 stands at 15 games - 11 of which have ended in victory since their last such reverse on Monaco's turf in February.
While Lens ruined PSG's New Year festivities in 2023, the champions have since gleaned revenge with a pair of 3-1 beatings at the Parc des Princes - most recently coming up short in August - and eight of the last nine battles between Sunday's competitors have seen both teams score.
Team News
© Reuters
Three Lens players in Salis Abdul Samed, Morgan Guilavogui and Nampalys Mendy have been summoned for African Cup of Nations duty this month, and Haise is also without teenage defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who is competing for Asian Cup glory with Uzbekistan.
ACL victims Jimmy Cabot and Wuilker Farinez are entering the latter stages of their recoveries but will not be back in action just yet, and Haise's defensive ranks also remain depleted by the absences of full-backs Massadio Haidara and Deiver Machado.
Fellow wide man Przemyslaw Frankowski reported for training sick on Thursday but is expected to be fine for the visit of the champions - the same can be said for Ruben Aguilar despite a minor thigh issue - while the calf problem that prevented Jonathan Gradit from taking on Monaco should also heal in time for the weekend.
In terms of PSG's availability, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and South Korea's Lee Kang-in will be away with their national teams for a number of weeks, and the champions have been dealt a killer blow with Milan Skriniar, who is supposedly at risk of missing the rest of the season with the ankle injury he sustained in the Coupe de France.
Thankfully for Enrique, January arrival Lucas Beraldo is ready for his Ligue 1 debut this weekend, but Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles), Nuno Mendes (hamstring), Alexandre Letellier (illness), Arnau Tenas (shoulder) and Sergio Rico (head trauma) will all miss this one.
Fringe defender Nordi Mukiele is said to have agreed terms over a winter transfer to Bayern Munich, but he remains on the PSG books for now and will be a candidate to deputise for Hakimi on the right-hand side this weekend.
Lens possible starting lineup:
Samba; Medina, Danso, Gradit; Frankowski, Diouf, Fulgini, Maouassa; Sotoca, Thomasson; Wahi
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Mukiele, Marquinhos, Pereira, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Ugarte, Vitinha; Barcola, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
We say: Lens 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
The old gang should be back together in terms of Lens' centre-back trio, but with lingering doubts over the fitness of several full-backs, PSG's tricky wide men could have a field day at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Twelve months on from Lens' memorable success in this fixture, history should not repeat itself for reigning champions PSG, who are the only Ligue 1 team without an away defeat this term and should maintain that unblemished record in style.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
