PSG vs Lyon Trophy Des Champions preview

Paris Saint-Germain will start their D1Arkema campaign on the 17th September. But before they start their new league season, they will play Lyon for the Trophee Des Champions.

The Trophy Des Champions is a game between the League and Cup winners of the previous season, but since Lyon were winners of both of those trophies, they play PSG, who came second in the D1Arkema table.

PSG have already secured a trophy before going into this game after winning the AMOS Cup for the first time, surpassing Liverpool and AC Milan to do so. But we all know when it comes to Lyon, it's always a different sort of task.

Both clubs have had a busy transfer window, with PSG having many departures but bringing in names like Ana Vitoria, Viola Calligaris, and Aissatou Tounkara.

Paris's 22/23 top-scorer Kadidiatou Diani decided to leave the club and is now a Lyon striker. So, we will most likely see her play against her now former club during this match.

PSG predicted line-up

Formation 3-5-2

Katarzyna Kiedrzyenk

Tounkara, Le Guilly, Calligaris

Karchaoui, Geyoro, Groenen, Fazer, Martens

Vangsgaard, Baltimore (C)

PSG manager Gerard Precheur now has a complete squad with all of the WWC participating players all back at the club.

Despite his openness on changing the style of play, which he was referring to the formation, after using the 3-5-2 pretty much all Summer, it would be quite likely he again pick that.

Constance Picaud was a member of the France squad, but as expected, did not play during the matches. It remains to be seen if she will be the regular chosen goalkeeper this season, but thus far, due to Picuad's absence, Kiedrzynek has been taking the responsibility. During the final of the AMOS Cup, Constance did enter the game for the final few minutes, but her being on the bench for this game seems more likely.

Midfielders Grace Geyoro, Laurina Fazer, and Jackie Groenen will be expected to keep their spots like the former game.

Sandy Baltimore has been PSG's standout player during the pre-season matches, scoring 5 goals, with two of those being scored in the AMOS Cup final.

Another question remains: who will wear the armband? Grace Geyoro was the chosen candidate last season after Paulina Dudek had to sit out due to injury, and it seems it will be the same case for Dudek, who has suffered another injury, but during the pre-season, it was Baltimore who took the responsibility.

And while you'd think this isn't a question because Geyoro is back in the starting line-up, it didn't prove to be the situation during the last game when Baltimore was still the chosen captain despite Geyoro's presence in the starting 11.

PSG and Lyon last season head-to-heads

Paris and Lyon entountered each other four times last season, in three different competitions.

D1Arkema : Lyon 0-1 PSG

D1Arkema : PSG 0-1 Lyon

Ironically, the first 1-0 win was the win that kept PSG in contention for the title, while the second scoreline was the one that took them out and gave Lyon the title honour.

French Cup Final : Lyon 2-1 PSG

The final of the French Cup, where Ada Hegerberg scored twice before halftime, and Ramona Bachmann brought them back into it through a penalty also before the break. But overall, it was a game that didn't look even possible for Paris to win when you watched their performance.

Trophee Des Champions : Lyon 1-0 PSG

PSG Post prediction

Lyon 2-1 PSG

While PSG have had a decent pre-season, they did struggle against the majority of the teams they played. Lyon haved always been a difficult team to beat for Paris, and while they do have the capability to do so, the new squad depth for Lyon might just be enough for them to win this game.

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