First meets fourth in an unexpected top-of-the-table clash at the Stade du Moustoir in Ligue 1 on Sunday lunchtime, as Lorient welcome runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
The hosts' fast start to the season has taken a slight hit after three games without a win, while Christophe Galtier's side enter on the back of a minor European disappointment.
Match preview
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It has come as little surprise to see Lorient's downturn in form coincide with injuries to star striker Terem Moffi and midfield maestro Laurent Abergel, and while the former was fit enough to come off the bench against Nice last time out, Les Merlus still slumped to their first defeat since August.
Dango Ouattara powered home a header to put Regis Le Bris's high-flyers in the ascendancy, but in the second half, Youcef Atal cut in from the right to fire home before Gaetan Laborde's effort took a significant deflection and looped over Yvon Mvogo into the back of the net.
Having put together a remarkable six-game winning streak earlier in the autumn, Lorient have now gone three games without victory in the French top flight, but it would have been a monumental shock to see Le Bris's men sustain their charge for a Champions League place for much longer.
Nevertheless, Les Merlus remain firmly in continental contention as they occupy fourth place in the rankings - three points clear of Marseille and only behind Rennes on goal difference - and they are yet to suffer back-to-back defeats in the tournament this season.
The hosts have also been shut out just once in their last 14 Ligue 1 matches and will no doubt have been made aware of PSG's recent frailties at the back, but a record of just one clean sheet from eight games is there to be exposed by the champions.
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Beating Juventus on their own patch was not enough for Paris Saint-Germain to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners, as they were pushed all the way by Benfica and eventually pipped by the Portuguese powerhouses on the final matchday.
Kylian Mbappe and Nuno Mendes finished with aplomb either side of Leonardo Bonucci's equaliser, but with Benfica thumping Maccai Haifa 6-1, Galtier's men were consigned to a second-placed finish in Group H courtesy of their inferior goal difference.
Defensive deficiencies have not helped PSG in that regard at all recently, as they conceded three to Troyes at the Parc des Princes last weekend but ultimately managed to run out 4-3 winners, which sees them maintain a five-point lead over Lens at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
Nevertheless, victory over Juventus marked a fifth win on the bounce in all competitions for the capital club, who are aiming to stretch their lengthy unbeaten run in all competitions to 30 games this weekend, and the champions have impressively conceded just one goal in their last eight Ligue 1 away games - keeping clean sheets in each of their last five.
That wonderful streak will be tested to the extreme at the Stade du Moustoir, but a sixth consecutive away clean sheet in Ligue 1 would mark a new club record for PSG, who have failed to beat Lorient away from home in their last two attempts - drawing 1-1 in December after a 3-2 loss earlier in 2021.
Team News
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Eight-goal striker Moffi was able to complete the final 30 minutes against Nice upon his return from a minor injury and should force his way back into the starting lineup here, with Stephane Diarra likely fearing for his spot in the final third.
Abergel's broken arm could keep him out until after the World Cup in a devastating blow to Les Merlus, who have failed to win since the skipper entered the treatment room after posting an 80% victory rate with him in the starting lineup.
Left-back Samuel Loric should be the hosts' only other absentee for the visit of the champions, which will benefit the chances of Theo Le Bris - the manager's nephew - of holding his place.
Similarly, PSG will welcome a star attacker of their own back to the first XI in Neymar, who was suspended for the Champions League tie with Juventus, and his return is timely after Fabian Ruiz went off injured in the 21st minute.
The Spaniard's muscular problem could reportedly rule him out until after the World Cup, and PSG were also without Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) and Keylor Navas (back) for the trip to Turin, but neither man's issue is thought to be too serious.
Should the injury-hit Kimpembe miss out again, another 4-3-1-2 setup is seemingly on the cards for the visitors, with Vitinha, Carlos Soler and Marco Verratti linking arms in the engine room.
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Kalulu, Talbi, Laporte, Le Goff; Innocent; Ouattara, Le Fee, Ponceau, Le Bris; Moffi
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Ramos, Marquinhos, Mendes; Vitinha, Verratti, Soler; Messi; Mbappe, Neymar
We say: Lorient 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
With the effervescent Moffi back in the first XI and ready to trouble a PSG defence that has conceded six goals in their last three games, do not be surprised to see at least one of the hosts' attacks end with the ball in the back of the net.
However, Abergel's absence from the midfield is being well and truly felt, and PSG's attacking superstars should be up to their old tricks to condemn Lorient to a fourth game without a win.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
