Lyonnais vs PSG - Lacazette: We must beat PSG to stay in contention at top

Posted Saturday, November 26, 2016 by PA

Alexandre Lacazette has warned of the dire consequences of defeat as Lyon head into a crunch Ligue 1 match against Paris St Germain.

Striker Lacazette, with 10 goals already in the league this season, is second only to PSG's Edinson Cavani in the scoring charts.

But Lyon as a team are struggling, sitting well off the pace set by the early front-runners, who have been Nice, Monaco and Sunday's visitors.

And should Lyon not beat the reigning champions at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, it would represent a heavy blow to their hopes of playing Champions League football next term.

Lacazette said: "It's an important match. If we don't take the three points we won't be in the best of positions to catch the other teams at the top."

Five defeats in a 29-day period, beginning in late September, were savage setbacks to Lyon's season at home and in Europe, but they remain ambitious.

They finished second to PSG last season, albeit 31 points behind the champions, and a 2-1 home victory over the previously unbeaten Parisians in February showed their ability.

"We're capable. Everything is possible in a match," Lacazette said. "We want to do it again. We'll give our all.

"We know they want to win. Paris are a team who don't lose much."

Lyon lost 4-1 to PSG in August's Trophee des Champions, and although the team from the Parc des Princes have had shaky moments in the early months of the campaign, Lacazette has no doubts about their quality.

"PSG are the best team in the league," he said, quoted on Lyon's website. "We played them in August and they weren't an inferior side when compared to last season. They're no less frightening even if they've had a more difficult time of it."

The battle with Cavani could be telling in the evening kick-off, with PSG's Uruguayan one goal ahead of Lacazette but taking flak for a number of costly misses.

"He's a very good centre forward," Lacazette said. "He's one of the best strikers in the world. He tires out defences. He deserves more respect.

"We can always do better. I'm happy because I've scored goals and I'm sometimes decisive. But I want to keep moving forward to become even more decisive. To be the top scorer in Ligue 1 is a target even if it won't be easy."

PSG will be without playmaker Angel Di Maria, who is training again but whose thigh injury will not be risked.

Head coach Unai Emery said of PSG's challenge: "This match against Lyon is important for the continuation of the championship. Three precious points are in play. Lyon are motivated, they've overcome some doubts, and for us this will be a difficult match."