PSG vs Lyon moves to Monday night in top-of-table clash
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- PSG vs Lyon moved from Sunday to Monday night. Police in Paris asked for the move. The game kicks off at 8:30 pm Paris time.
- Both teams have 14 points after seven games. Lyon sit top on goal difference. PSG sit second.
- The winner takes top spot in Ligue 1. A draw keeps Lyon on top.
PSG and Lyon meet on Monday night instead of Sunday. The game is a top-of-table clash in Ligue 1. Both teams want first place.
Why the game moved
The game was set for Sunday, October 25. It was set for 8:45 pm Paris time. The Paris police prefecture then banned the game at that time.
The French league, the LFP, announced the move on October 23.
The new kickoff is Monday, October 26, at 8:30 pm Paris time. The venue did not change. The game stays at Parc des Princes.
Police asked for the move for safety reasons. Large protests were planned in Paris over the weekend. Police needed their staff for the protests.
The LFP said it noted the police order. It then moved the game by one day.
This was the fourth match change of the weekend. The changes covered Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. They followed protests that took place on October 17.
TNT Sports reports the protests began as student protests. They then grew into wider anger over the cost of living. They also grew over public services, fuel prices, and schools.
The weekend was busy for Paris police in other ways too. The NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers took place at Stade de France. That game added to the strain on police staff.
What is at stake
This is round 8 of Ligue 1. Both teams have played seven games. Both teams have 14 points.
Lyon lead the table on goal difference. PSG are second.
A PSG win puts PSG on top. A Lyon win extends the Lyon lead. A draw keeps Lyon on top.
No other result is possible in the points race.
PSG come into the game after a big European win. They beat Barcelona 4-2 in the Champions League, according to TNT Sports. That win came on Tuesday.
It gives PSG confidence for Monday night. You can read about PSG's win over Barcelona in our earlier explainer.
Lyon come in as league leaders. They have held top spot after seven rounds. A point on the road would keep them there.
A win would make a clear statement.
The confirmed teams
PSG play in a 4-3-3 shape, according to Athlon Sports. Matvey Safonov starts in goal. Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Pacho, and Zaire-Emery form the defence.
Neves, Vitinha, and Ruiz play in midfield. Akliouche, Torres, and Doue lead the attack.
The PSG bench holds strong names too. Lucas Digne is among the substitutes. Lucas Hernandez is also among the substitutes.
Luis Enrique coaches PSG.
Lyon also play in a 4-3-3 shape. Dominik Greif starts in goal. Athekame, Bacher, Niakhate, and Abner form the defence.
Tessmann, Morton, and Tolisso play in midfield. Nuamah, Merah, and Duranville lead the attack. Paulo Fonseca coaches Lyon.
Two PSG stars miss out through injury. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hurt his right knee against Barcelona. He ruptured a ligament in the knee, reports TNT Sports.
He now needs surgery.
Ousmane Dembele also came off hurt against Barcelona. Marquinhos came off hurt in the same game. Both men face weeks out, according to TNT Sports.
Dembele is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner. He hoped to keep his crown this year.
The Ballon d'Or clash
Monday night brings a strange clash of events. The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place in London on the same night. PSG have several nominees for the top award.
Dembele hopes to win it again. Hakimi, Kvaratskhelia, and Marquinhos are also nominated, reports TNT Sports.
The new match date puts their plans in doubt. The players must prepare for a huge league game. They may not be able to attend the London event.
TNT Sports reports their availability is now in doubt. Injured players may still travel, but the club must weigh the match first.
For fans, the clash is a talking point. For PSG, it is a headache. The league game comes first.
The awards must wait.
When and where to watch
Kickoff is 8:30 pm in Paris on Monday. That is 7:30 pm in the United Kingdom. It is 3:30 pm on the East Coast of the United States.
It is 12:30 pm on the West Coast.
In Pakistan, kickoff is 12:30 am on Tuesday. In India, it is 1 am on Tuesday. Fans in France can watch on Ligue 1+.
Fans in the United States can watch on beIN SPORTS. Fans in the United Kingdom can watch on Ligue 1+ and Amazon Prime Video pay-per-view, according to Athlon Sports.
Monday night games can shape a whole week. Beşiktaş also played on Monday night this week. You can read about the Monday-night game in Turkey in our earlier explainer.
What happens next
The result will set the top of Ligue 1. The winner takes first place after eight rounds. The loser must chase from behind.
A draw leaves Lyon on top on goal difference.
The weekend changes show a wider strain on French football. Toulouse vs Troyes also moved. That game shifted from Saturday to Sunday.
Local officials asked for that move too.
For PSG, the next step is clear. They must win at home to take top spot. They must do it without Dembele and Kvaratskhelia.
For Lyon, the task is just as clear. A win in Paris would grow their lead. A draw would keep them top.
The Monday night game ends a strange weekend. Protests changed the plan. Police orders changed the dates.
In the end, the two best teams in France still meet. First place is the prize.
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