Lione-PSG is the final of the 2023-24 edition of the French Cup and is played Saturday at 9 p.m.: live TV, predictions, likely lineups.
If you had told a Lyon fan last fall that his team would make it to the Europa League at the end of the tournament, he probably would have laughed in your face. Only six months ago, in fact, the Gones were on the brink of the precipice and lying desolately in last place in the standings. Fabio Grosso, who took over from Laurent Blanc, had failed to solve the serious problems within the locker room. And the club, in desperation, had decided to rely on ferryman Pierre Sage, initially appointed on an interim basis.
And what was supposed to be a solution-tampon turned out to be a very good choice. With the new coach, Lyon began to climb back up the slope, grind out games (and victories) again, and in the return leg ended up collecting more points than anyone (40 in 18 games). Thanks in part to an ambitious buying campaign in the January market, Lacazette and his teammates finished in sixth place, pulling off a pass to the next Europa League. An achievement made possible above all by the six victories in the last seven days of Ligue 1, a streak interrupted only by the defeat that came against that very PSG that Lyon will face in the final of the French Cup, scheduled on the neutral field of Lille.
Luis Enrique wants the “double”
The Gones in this competition have not gone this far since the 2011-12 season, when they came out on top in the final over Quevilly, winning the cup for the fifth time in their history.
For the Parisians, however, it would be their 15th triumph. Luis Enrique’s team, which has become French champions for the third year in a row – the number of titles has risen to 12 – has in its sights the so-called “double” and that is the cup-championship couplet. Their season, in any case, was “tainted” by their failure to reach the Champions League final, following their defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals. Before saying goodbye for good to Kylian Mbappé – this will be the Frenchman’s last appearance in a PSG jersey – the Capitoline will try to put yet another national trophy in their trophy case against a team they beat decisively this year in both the first leg and the return leg, two matches that both ended with a 4-1 result.
The prediction
Lyon in the second half of the season has been a tough nut for anyone and, having nothing to lose, will make life difficult for PSG as well. The Parisians remain logical favorites but this could be a more open final than expected and with both teams scoring on at least one occasion. We hypothesize a more prolific second half than the first.
The probable lineups of Lyon-PSG
LION (4-1-4-1): Perri; Mata, O’Brien, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico; Matic; Cherki, Caqueret, Tolisso, Benhrama; Lacazette.
PSG (4-3-3): Donnaruma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Nuno Mendes; Zaïre Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Dembélé, Mbappé, Barcola.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
