Les Sang et Or are the biggest surprise of Ligue 1 this season – sitting second and eager to stay as close as possible to the reigning champions. Why not even overtake them… But in order to do that they need to be the best they can tonight at their Stade Bollaert-Delelis, where they welcome Paris Saint-Germain (22.45). Get ready for the top-of-the-table Ligue 1 clash on New Year’s Day.The Blood and Gold – who were enduring life in the doldrums of Ligue 2 as recently as 2019-20 – are sitting pretty in second place with a total of 37 points from 16 games, seven adrift of the runaway champions and four clear of Marseille in third place.Last time out, Lens failed to overtake the unpredictable Nice side (0-0) thus ending an astonishing five-game winning run in Ligue 1, but Franck Haise and his effervescent crop continue to make waves at this level of football and are PSG’s biggest threat to the title as things stand.Le leader contre son dauphin. ⚔️A eux deux, le PSG et RC Lens ont pris 28 points sur 30 possibles au cours des 5 dernières journée de Ligue 1. 💪🔥Coup d’envoi à 20h45 sur @PVSportFR. pic.twitter.com/N9isdDvGzg— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) January 1, 2023 Lens’ record at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis is the dictionary definition of perfection – Haise’s side are unsurprisingly the top-performing team on their own turf in Ligue 1 this term and conceding just one goal in their last five top-flight games on home soil will certainly lead to a shred of apprehension from the visiting party. Tonight’s hosts have won all eight of their Ligue 1 home games so far this season – not even PSG can boast such a hot streak of form.The giant from the French capital had a difficult job in the previous round, managing to beat Strasbourg 2-1 only after a late penalty converted by Kylian Mbappe. The match was marked by Neymar’s two quick yellow cards who earned him a suspicious suspension. But never mind – let’s go back to tonight’s derby.Christophe Galtier’s men have dropped a mere two points on the road all season long and not only that – PSG have also conceded just two goals in their eight Ligue 1 games on rival turf this season.This means that for all of Lens’ sensational performances on home soil this term, PSG seem to know what to do when they are away from Parc des Princes.Les compositions probables de Lens et du PSG avant le choc de ce dimanche soir #RCLPSG ➡️ https://t.co/VbViQEK0FQ pic.twitter.com/osC1I9IA80— Le Parisien | sport (@leparisiensport) January 1, 2023 A sixth successive win in Ligue 1 ensured that PSG would maintain their healthy seven-point lead at the top of the rankings entering 2023, but they were held to a pair of draws by perpetual surprise package Lens in the 2021-22 campaign and will take nothing for granted versus Haise and his overachieving charges.Lens are managing to keep up the great form even though injuries are not passing them by. A quartet of confirmed absentees for this showdown lists ACL victims Jimmy Cabot and Wuilker Farinez, as well as attacking duo David Costa (shoulder) and Adam Buksa (ankle).Jean Onana can look forward to a start against the champions if that is the case, although Lois Openda replaced the Cameroon international before the hour mark on Thursday and could now come in for Onana or Wesley Said.On the other end, the absences of Neymar and Messi, alongside a knee scare for Hugo Ekitike, could see Pablo Sarabia start in the final third, while El Chadaille Bitshiabu was handed an unexpected start at left-back on Wednesday after Juan Bernat reported pain in his thigh.🇫🇷Ligue1🔴🟡RC Lens a beautiful Football story☁️✅2nd in Ligue1✅Only lost 1 Game all season✅Joint Least conceded 10 (PSG)🏟16 Games✅11 Wins🤝4 Draws❌1 LostNever qualified for UCL or UEL. Last time in Europe was 1993-94 in UEFA CupManager Franck Haise, Bravo✊ pic.twitter.com/KU7HafWhbt— António Mango (@AntonioMango4) December 30, 2022 The 17-year-old earned plenty of praise for his mature performance, but Galtier could start Nordi Mukiele on the left for this contest, as Achraf Hakimi returns on the right.Return for Carlos Soler in the number 10 role is surely in order with Neymar not being in rotation.Lionel Messi will likely be on the plane back to Paris a few hours before PSG kick off on New Year’s Day, and the Argentine misses out again alongside Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes, although Renato Sanches could potentially return from a bruise in time for Sunday’s clash.LIGUE 1- Round 17Sunday17:00: (2.70) Angers (3.25) Lorient (2.85)17:00: (2.20) Toulouse (3.35) Ajaccio (3.35)17:00: (1.48) Monaco (4.40) Brest (6.75)17:00: (1.92) Nantes (3.60) Auxerre (4.40)19:00: (1.45) Olympique Lyon (4.40) Clermont (7.25)22:45: (4.00) Lens (3.60) PSG (2.00)Monday17:00: (1.85) Strasbourg (3.70) Troyes (4.60)19:00: (1.65) Lille (3.80) Reims (5.50)21:00: (4.60) Montpellier (3.60) Olympique Marseille (1.80)23:00: (1.85) Rennes (3.50) Nice (4.40)***odds are subject to change***
