Lille to break PSG's Ligue Un stranglehold
The final game of the 2020/2021 Ligue 1 season takes place on Sunday evening, with the title still to be decided. Paris Saint-Germain have dominated French football for what feels like an eternity, but now find themselves relying on leaders Lille slipping up at Angers to have any hope. SCO are bidding farewell to head coach Stéphane Moulin after a decade in charge, but with their lengthy injury list, their part in the last day drama could be reduced to a footnote. Read our preview here:
Moulin noir et blanc
Long-time manager Moulin can be very proud of the achievements he has made during his 10 years in charge, most notably winning promotion from Ligue 2 and keeping his side in the top flight relatively comfortably ever since. FIFA handed the club a transfer ban for the upcoming summer window, so his replacement will have to make the most of the squad already in situ. As for Sunday, eight players are likely to be missing for the visit of Lille, hampering any efforts to spoil the potential party. Sole striker Stéphane Bahoken is enduring a barren spell in front of goal, and is unlikely to find much change against the tightest defence in the division. Behind him, the impressive Angelo Fulgini will seek to pull some strings, but might have to settle for scraps as the hosts will be stretched to their limit defensively.
Lille are jolly good fellows
Manager Christopher Galtier is unlikely to twist on his tried and tested 4-4-2 shape, despite both drawing a blank at home to Saint Étienne last time out, and the obvious need and urgency to score early to take some of the pressure off having to find something close to the wire. Portuguese veteran José Fonte is suspended for the title decider, allowing in turn fellow countryman Tiago Djaló the chance to partner Sven Norman in the heart of the defence. Most of the action will undoubtedly will be contained at the other end of the field however, and there is a chance the returning figure of Renato Sanches will be operating in between the lines from a nominally right wing position. He will be looking to pick out Burak Yılmaz at every available opportunity, as the 35 year old Turkish forward is one of the standout goalscorers across Europe both domestically and internationally this term. He ought to make the most of a weakened and suspect home defence that have a habit of collapsing against more vaunted opposition.
Break the monopoly
Only Monaco (who still have a remote chance of being crowned champions themselves) have broken the long list of titles PSG have accrued in the last nine campaigns. Sunday night represents a superb chance for that to be interrupted for a second time. Angers are not simply going to roll over, especially during Moukin's final match in charge. However, there is too much riding for Lille to be anything but relentless in pursuit of the victory that would seal the trophy. 888sport have odds of 6.00 for a 2-0 triumph.
