Preview: Lyon vs. Paris Saint-Germain - Coupe de France Final

Tonight, all eyes will be on the Stade Pierre-Mauroy as Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) clash in the eagerly anticipated Coupe de France final. The stakes couldn't be higher, with PSG looking to secure a domestic double and Lyon aiming to cap a remarkable season with silverware.

Match Preview

Lyon's Resurgence

The 2023-24 season has been a tale of two halves for Lyon. A dismal start saw them flirting with relegation, which prompted a public dressing down by their ultras following a heavy defeat to PSG in September. However, under the stewardship of Pierre Sage, Lyon has experienced a dramatic turnaround. The Gones surged up the Ligue 1 table, securing a Europa League spot thanks to a four-game winning streak to close the season. Their late-season form saw them collect 40 points from 18 matches, the highest in Ligue 1 during that period.

Lyon's path to the Coupe de France final included scalps of Ligue 1 rivals Lille and Strasbourg, alongside victories over lower-league sides Pontarlier, Bergerac, and Valenciennes. With five Coupe de France titles to their name, Lyon's last triumph came in the 2011-12 season, and they will be eager to add a sixth tonight.

 PSG's Quest for Glory

PSG, on the other hand, are no strangers to success in this competition, having lifted the Coupe de France trophy 14 times. Despite their domestic dominance, the Parisiens have not won the cup since 2021, a drought by their lofty standards. Luis Enrique's side retained their Ligue 1 title with ease and ended the season with victories over Nice and Metz, restoring confidence after a shaky spell.

PSG's pedigree in the Coupe de France is unparalleled, and they will be determined to reassert their dominance. Their previous encounters with Lyon this season ended in comprehensive 4-1 victories, but finals have a way of defying the form book.

Team News

 Lyon

Lyon will be without any fresh injury concerns, with Alexandre Lacazette available despite a suspension-inducing yellow card in their last league match. Lacazette, who played a pivotal role in Lyon's 2012 Coupe de France triumph, will again lead the line. The key decision for Pierre Sage will be in goal, where Lucas Perri, who saved a crucial penalty in the quarter-finals, may get the nod over Anthony Lopes.

Possible Starting XI:

Perri; Mata, O'Brien, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico; Caqueret, Matic, Tolisso; Cherki, Lacazette, Benrahma

Paris Saint-Germain

For PSG, Kylian Mbappe, who is set to join Real Madrid, is expected to feature after missing the final league game as a precaution. Enrique will welcome back several rested stars, including Gianluigi Donnarumma, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Ousmane Dembele, and Marquinhos. However, Lucas Hernandez (ACL), Sergio Rico (head), and Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Possible Starting XI:

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Beraldo, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz; Dembele, Ramos, Mbappe

Prediction

While Lyon's remarkable resurgence makes them formidable opponents, PSG's depth and quality, bolstered by returning key players, give them the edge. Expect a closely contested match, but PSG should have enough firepower to secure their 15th Coupe de France title.

Prediction: Lyon 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain