MATCH PREVIEW: Jonathan David, Lille OSC host high-flying PSG in crucial Ligue 1 clash
VANCOUVER – Jonathan David versus Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mpabbe.
It's a clash of the heavyweights in Ligue 1 this weekend, as Lille hosts PSG in a crucial matchup LIVE on OneSoccer.
A battle between the last two champions of France, this game could very well already have massive implications on the title, with PSG already sitting first through two games of this 2022/2023 season, while Lille sits just behind them in third.
With PSG having comfortably won the league last year, doing so by 15 points, avenging a 2020-2021 where Lille surprised them and won by just one point (they toiled away in 10th last year), these two sides will look to be among the top two once again when the season ends.
On one side, there's PSG, who currently look like the team to beat in France, and for good reason. Already loaded with talent such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Marco Verratti, among many other stars, they also then made the shrewd move of bringing in French coach Christophe Galtier to help tie it all together, giving them one of the best coaches in France.
Having been at the helm of that famed Lille triumph back in 20/21, before leaving to guide a middling OGC Nice side to European Conference League qualifiers, Galtier has built the reputation of a coach who'd get the most out of his teams, squeezing every last drop.
Therefore, him making the step up to manage PSG was a big coup, giving him a chance to try and make the most of the club's endless supply of star talent. Having seemingly stagnated under their last manager, Mauricio Pochettino, especially in the Champions League, they hoped that bringing in Galtier could change that.
And so far, he seems to have them on track towards that goal. It's early days, but through two league matches, Neymar already has three goals and three assists, while Messi has two goals and one assist, as PSG beat Clermont Foot and Montpellier by a combined score of 10-2.
THIS WEEKEND 🚨
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) August 18, 2022
Catch #CanMNT striker Jonathan David in #Ligue1 action vs. Paris Saint-Germain and stars Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe ✨
⏰ Aug. 21 | 2:45PM ET
▶️ https://t.co/7JFAUhxUCE pic.twitter.com/jKy1ki1Hd2
Meanwhile, at his old club, however, a similar air of good energy does surround Lille heading into this one, giving them hope as they get set to host the French giants.
After a very middling 21/22, one where they fell heavily after the departure of Galtier, the hiring of Portuguese manager Paulo Fonesca has returned the good vibes to Lille, as not only are they grabbing results again, but doing so in style, too.
Led by CanMNT star Jonathan David, who paces the team with two goals and two assists through two games, they look like a whole new team offensively, with their new-look attack of David, Mohamed Bayo, Remy Cabella and Jonathan Bamba doing well to click nicely in flashes.
Along with a return to solidity defensively, it's led them to pick up four out of a possible six points to start the season, scoring five goals and conceding two along the way, which is encouraging signs considering how things ended for them last season.
Because of that, as well as the fact that they have no European soccer to focus on this year (a consequence of last year's results), that does make them one of the favourites to push PSG in Ligue 1, something that a result in this game could further prove.
Plus, there's the fact that their squad does seem to get up for these sorts of games, something that they've proven over the last two years. There, they've met PSG six times in official competition, winning two, drawing one and losing three, with one win coming in the French Super Cup (Trophée des Champions), and the other coming in the tail-end of their league-winning campaign.
Not only that, but David seems to like this fixture, in particular, scoring twice in four Ligue 1 meetings against PSG, which accounts for a decent chunk of his 30 career Ligue 1 goals.
ICYMI, #CanMNT striker Jonathan David scored the only goal in what could be a title-deciding win for Lille OSC over Paris Saint-Germain
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) April 4, 2021
Seven more #Ligue1 matches for league-leading Lille, available on OneSoccer 👉 https://t.co/6LyEo1HM9U pic.twitter.com/GNWt6X3bL2
As a result, look for David to lead Lille into battle this game, giving them the ammunition that they need to counter the Messi, Neymar and Mbappe trio, in what should be an entertaining match at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Catch Lille versus Paris Saint Germain LIVE on OneSoccer at 2:45 p.m. ET/11:45 p.m. PT on Sunday, August 21st. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
