On Sunday, PSG will take on Lille in what arguably is the big game for matchday 12 of the 2021/22 Ligue 1 season. That's because on one side of the pitch will be the team who have enjoyed unprecedented dominance since 2012, while on the other will be the side who pipped them to the Ligue 1 title in one of the most exciting title races fans have seen in recent times.
However, the two sides have had vastly different starts to the current term. Reigning champs Lille have really struggled since coach Christophe Galtier left for Nice, and find themselves sitting in a very disappointing tenth spot. Les Dogues had picked up some great form, but come into this game winless in their last two games and presently are behind PSG by a significant margin of 18 points.
Meanwhile, PSG have largely gone from strength to strength. Despite having some teething difficulties, namely in getting Lionel Messi properly integrated in with his teammates, Mauricio Pochettino's squad have been largely dominant of the domestic landscape and now hold a comfortable seven-point lead over second-placed Lens.
On paper, this game does look pitted in favor of PSG, especially considering their form. Yet, there are two things that may give Lille some hope.
The first is that they did beat PSG earlier this year, recording a 1-0 win in the Trophée des Champions at the start of this campaign and thus denying Les Parisiens the chance to make it a ninth straight trophy on the trot.
Second - and perhaps way more significant - is the fact that Kylian Mbappe is expected to miss this match. The 2018 World Cup winner is struggling with an ear infection and has now been reportedly ruled out. In addition, Messi recently suffered a knock and thus will have to be closely evaluated over the next 24 hours to see if he'll be fit in time for Friday's clash.
