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PSG logo
Ligue 1
Mar 7, 2015 at 4pm UK
 
Lens logo

4-1

Luiz (43'), Ibrahimovic (60' pen.), Matuidi (80'), Pastore (83')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Touzghar (69')

Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lens

Sports Mole previews PSG's Ligue 1 home clash with relegation-threatened Lens as Laurent Blanc's side warm up for their Champions League showdown with Chelsea.

Paris Saint-Germain warm up for their Champions League showdown with Chelsea by hosting Lens in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

It is second versus second-from-bottom at the Parc des Princes as PSG, unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions, take on a Lens side who are winless in eight.

This would be the perfect opportunity for PSG manager Laurent Blanc to rest players ahead of their trip to London on Wednesday, but injuries and the risk of slipping up in the title race may force him to go with a strong team.

With the scores locked at 1-1 from the first leg in Paris two weeks ago, the French champions may have to become the first side to win at Stamford Bridge this season to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.

Blanc may be thankful then that it is the less-threatening opposition of Lens, rather than Monaco, who await his side this weekend.

PSG recorded their 11th Ligue 1 draw of the campaign against the principality outfit on Monday, to cut the gap on league leaders Lyon to a single point, before beating them 2-0 to reach the last four of the Coupe de France.

Salvatore Sirigu should replace Nicolas Douchez in the only expected change to the Parisians' cup side, although Maxwell could also return in defence to give one of their Brazilians a rest ahead of the Chelsea clash.

Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is likely to be given the day off as he manages the heel problem that has hampered his season. Yohan Cabaye, Thiago Motta and Lucas Moura are all missing for both of PSG's matches this week.

Lens have picked up just three draws in eight games since the resumption of the French season after the winter break and have fallen nine points adrift of safety in their battle to avoid relegation straight back to the second tier.

Manager Antoine Kombouare could make just the one change to the side that went down 1-0 to Rennes last weekend, with Alharbi El Jadeyaoui pushing for a start in midfield at the expense of Wylan Cyprien.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Jerome Le Moigne, both of whom were sent off as Lens lost the eventful reverse fixture 3-1 in October, could join him in the centre of the park as the visitors seek a first win over PSG since 2006.

PSG:

Form in Ligue 1: WWDDWD
Form in all competitions: WDDWDW

Possible starting lineup: Sirigu; Digne, Silva, Marquinhos, Maxwell; Rabiot, Matuidi, Verratti; Pastore, Lavezzi, Cavani

Lens:

Form in Ligue 1: DDDLLL

Possible starting lineup: Riou; Kantari, Landre, Baal, Gbamin; Le Moigne, Valdivia, El Jadeyaoui; Touzghar, Chavarria, Guillaume

Sports Mole says: 1-0


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Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani celebrates a goal against Lyon on September 21, 2014
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Steelers
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG1192033102329
2MonacoMonaco117221881023
3Marseille116232415920
4Lille115421811719
5Lyon115331815318
6Nice1145221111017
7Reims115241915417
8Lens11452129317
9Auxerre115152019116
10Toulouse114341311215
11StrasbourgStrasbourg113442022-213
12Brest114161419-513
13Rennes113261318-511
14NantesNantes112451417-310
15Angers112451320-710
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne113171025-1510
17Le HavreLe Havre11308823-159
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier112181131-207


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