Paris Saint-Germain can go top of Ligue 1 on Monday night, and nothing on a London stage will distract Luis Enrique from it. The Spaniard was asked repeatedly at Saturday’s press conference whether the Ballon d’Or ceremony, taking place the same evening in London, was pulling at his players’ focus.
“It doesn’t interest me in the slightest. I remain focused on the match,” he said, in comments carried by AFP.
The fixture was moved from Sunday to Monday at the request of the Paris police. Large demonstrations are planned across the capital this weekend, and an NFL fixture at the Stade de France has added to the strain on the city’s security services.
Lyon and PSG arrive level on 14 points from seven matches, with Paulo Fonseca’s side first on goal difference. A win sends PSG above them.
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Dembélé defends in London
The Ballon d’Or’s 70th edition takes place at the London Palladium at 8pm London time, a few minutes after kick-off in Paris. PSG lead the men’s shortlist with nine nominees: reigning winner Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Willian Pacho and Marquinhos. No PSG player will be in the room to collect anything.
“As for the Ballon d’Or, we’ve shown what sort of team we are, and we have plenty of players who are in with a chance of winning it,” Enrique said.
Bookmakers have made Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane the frontrunner ahead of Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, with Dembélé defending the trophy he lifted a year ago.
Fonseca’s Lyon not forgotten
PSG have not forgotten the last visit of their Monday opponents. Fonseca’s Lyon won at the Parc des Princes last season, and Enrique framed the rematch as a chance to answer that defeat, saying it was a motivation to face Paulo Fonseca’s Lyon again after they “won at the Parc des Princes playing very well” the season before.
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The squad will be stretched. Dembélé, Marquinhos and Kvaratskhelia all picked up injuries in the midweek Champions League win over Barcelona, with Kvaratskhelia booked in for knee surgery and an extended spell out.
Kick-off at the Parc des Princes is Monday at 8:30pm local time.
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