Ligue 1. Defeat prohibited for Lyon and Paris, opposed in the Rhône

Tied second three lengths from Lille, OL and PSG meet this Sunday evening at Décines-Charpieu. Feeling the breath of Monaco, wide winner at the opening of the 30th day, they cannot afford to slow down in this thrilling race for the title.

–

–

Qhen the 3rd, Lyon, challenges the 2nd, Paris: a bad result in this shock at the top, Sunday (9 p.m.) at Groupama Stadium, could well block the road from the title to the beaten, as the Ligue 1 season begins its home stretch.

If one of the two teams loses, it would risk finding itself six lengths behind Lille, provided that the 1st holds its place four hours earlier against the 19th, Nîmes. And the 4th, Monaco, in demonstration Friday in Saint-Étienne (0-4), returned to a unit of PSG and OL, which occupies the last place giving access to the Champions League … After this great classic of Twenty-first century, there will remain eight days but letting slip the Losc could spell the end of the dreams of coronation. “It’s almost like a final”, warns the Parisian coach, Mauricio Pochettino.

“It’s true that this year we had some difficulties against the big teams. We did not bring back a lot of points ” Marco Verratti, PSG midfielder

After the international break, the French champion will face the Northerners (April 3), then it will be the long-awaited double opposition against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League (April 7 and 13). And between the two meetings with the outgoing European champion, Paris will go to Strasbourg.

In front of all these challenges, it is “A huge joy” for Pochettino to finally recover Neymar, almost six weeks on the flank due to an injury to the adductors. The Brazilian crack does not have 90 minutes in the legs but the idea is that he gains strength until the quarterfinals of C1.

This Sunday meeting is also an opportunity for PSG to put an end to a nasty statistic: it does not happen against the teams of the leading square. Held in check by the Lille (0-0), victims of the Monegasques twice, the Parisians also bowed to the Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes (0-1), on a goal from Tino Kadewere.

Respect but no fear

“It’s true that this year we had some difficulties against the big teams, admet Marco Verratti. We didn’t bring back a lot of points (1 of 12). » The Italian midfielder believes that his training has “A slightly less regular course. The other years, in April, we had already killed the championship “. Most “We must not be massacred because we lose two or three matches, nor say that we are zero on the outside”, pleads the one who, if he does not speak of revenge, sees ” one more (…). This match comes at the right time ”.

For its part, Lyon is good against “big”. He especially lost ground against “small”, like his home defeat in front of Metz (0-1). “The victory of the first leg shows us that we can beat PSG”, remarks Rudi Garcia. But it’s ” past “, adds the Rhone technician, who recalls that his counterpart has in the meantime succeeded Thomas Tuchel. “There is another coach at PSG. It won’t be the same tactic, the game will be different. “Even if they have a worse championship this season, with seven losses, they are also the ones who have won the most”, recalls Garcia, referring to Ile-de-France residents “Cut for the Champions League”, is “A very dangerous adversary, whom we must respect but not fear”.

With the game of direct confrontations, Lille OSC, Paris SG and Olympique Lyonnais will end up champions if they win in all games by the end of the season. “We are coming to the key moment of the championship but we still have everything in our hands”, summarizes Verratti, who concludes, resolutely confident: “With these two matches in a row against Lyon and Lille, we have good possibilities to regain the first position. “.