PARIS (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) face Lille tonight in a clash of France’s remaining Champions League hopefuls before a potentially season-defining showdown with Liverpool in the last 16.
Luis Enrique’s side are 13 points clear in Ligue 1 and sailing towards an 11th title in 13 seasons. They also reached the French Cup semi-finals on Wednesday with a 7-0 rout of fourth-tier Stade Briochin.
The next two weeks though will go a long way to determining how PSG’s season is truly judged, given the club has dominated French football since its Qatari takeover in 2011.
Paris host Liverpool next Wednesday at the Parc des Princes and then travel to Anfield for the second leg six days later, in a tie described by Luis Enrique as “extremely attractive”.
But the runaway Premier League leaders will present PSG with their most challenging test of the campaign, and Arne Slot’s players are set to be well rested after having the weekend off as a result of their early exit from the FA Cup.
That was an issue raised by Lille, who unsuccessfully tried to get their trip to the capital rearranged ahead of their meeting with Borussia Dortmund next Tuesday.
“My only regret is that the Champions League last 16 has been scheduled for a long time,” said Lille coach Bruno Genesio.
“So either we didn’t believe in French clubs qualifying for the last 16, or perhaps there was another way of doing things and not scheduling a Lille-PSG game three days before the first leg of a Champions League tie.”
Lille’s form has dipped since a 21-game unbeaten run was ended by Liverpool last month, with winger Edon Zhegrova still sidelined by a groin injury that was initially misdiagnosed and has kept him out since mid-December.
