The appearance of the playoffs since last season brings as many advantages as disadvantages. By removing the pressure surrounding a regular season OL-PSG or PSG-OL in the French women’s championship, the French Football Federation has also removed the interest. Scheduled for the sixth day this season, this Sunday at 2 p.m. (Canal + Foot), the Premier League poster will have no other impact than moral on the two big names. So what to expect for what until then looked like a “final”?
A great meeting with some of the best players in Europe, already. Tabitha Chawinga, Kadidiatou Diani, Lindsey Horan on the Lyon side; Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Grace Geyoro or Romée Leuchter on the PSG side. But the absences are just as numerous, particularly for the Parisians, deprived of their captain Paulina Dudek and executives Elisa de Almeida or Sakina Karchaoui (injured). We will also have to do without Thiniba Samoura or the young prospect Ornella Graziani (suspended) in the defensive sector. The Lyonnaises will do without the stars Eugénie Le Sommer and Sara Däbritz.
The only real stake in this clash concerns first place in the ranking, which offers a direct place in the group stage of the Champions League and the advantage of receiving in the semi-final and final of the playoffs. A not insignificant advantage. After five outings, PSG have five victories and two points ahead of OL, held in check on the pitch of Paris FC (0-0) before the international break at the end of October. Not losing or, better still, winning could give Fabrice Abriel’s training a little cushion in order to aim for this first place by the 22nd day.
“It’s always a very high-level match, according to the Parisian coach. A match between two teams aiming for the very top of the table. It remains a championship match, which is a marathon. This is the 6th duel, it’s up to us to achieve a sixth success. But nothing will be decisive, it’s an important match but we will have to continue to move forward after this meeting. » With five points ahead in the standings, Paris could however feel lighter. Deprived of the Champions League, unlike OL, it must be able to take advantage of this reduced schedule.
The pressure in this clash could come from Groupama Stadium in Lyon, packed with 15,000 fans expected. And a recent history that is very unfavorable to Parisians. Over the six confrontations last year, the record was a draw for five defeats, the last of which was in the playoff final (2-1), on May 17.
“This match always has a rather special flavor,” recalls former Parisian Kadidiatou Diani. We want to get back into first place and we know that the only solution is to win this match. »
