an opportunity that cannot be missed

With Olympique Lyonnais visiting Parc des Princes Saturday afternoon, PSG has a extraordinary opportunity to gain points on the Ligue 1 perennial champions. Sitting eighth in the table, Paul Le Guen's forces are the beneficiary of unique scheduling that provides them an extraordinary advantage on Lyon and should have been dealt with by regulatory bodies. While PSG must strike with this opportunity it bares noting that the LFP should have recognized the problems of multiple layers of scheduling layering on top of each other and for the sanctity of the game and ensuring they put the best players on the pitch, rescheduled matches. With many players involved in international duty, European and domestic competition, situations related to fatigue are a major concern with the by-product injuries if not lowered level of play comes into question. For a club such as Lyon which is headed to its eighth successive title, it forces them into a difficult situation where they must either place players at risk or prioritize matches which in the end hurts loyal supporters of the beautiful game. It is remarkable in todays era of inflated ticket prices and an endless array of products associated to the club that fans do not join forces and tell regulatory bodies that this type of nonsense must come to an end. This certainly isn't a planned event by PSG or any squad but the Parisian club should reap the benefits of it today as they go forward.

As Claude Puel enters the match he is dealing with the loss of Mathieu Bodmer, Francois Clerc, Cesar Delgado, Fabio Grosso and Miralem Pjanic as well as the likely absences of Jean Makoun, Jeremy Toulalan, Karim Benzema and Juninho. Given the fact they face Fiorentina in the Champions League, he will need to pull the reigns in with not only his lineup but tactical approaches, thus pushing this into more of a box-to-box situation. It is unfortunately his only choice and because of the lack of responsible management from regulatory bodies have bound his hands.

PSG enters the match well-rested and should be one-hundred per-cent fit. Whilst Paul Le Guen did not order up this scheduling oddity that provides an distinct advantage, he must be ruthless in the attack and take the attack to Lyonnais. Tactically this is a key as you must push the work-rate of the defending champions early and look to sever their chances in-order to gain three points. The pedigree of Lyonnais is irrefutable but PSG must use this opportunity to deliver the deadly blow and cannot allow the matches pace to slow. If there is a key to watch in the match it is the attacking focus of Stéphane Sessegnon pushing forward with an attacking trident of Mateja Kežman, Guillaume Hoarau who will one-day be capped for Les Bleus when a lunatic no longer runs the asylum and Ludovic Giuly.

I will report on the match once it concludes.