PSG vs LOSC Lille Prediction 16.01.2026 | Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain head into Friday night’s crucial encounter in the unfamiliar role of title chasers, after a series of unexpected setbacks have left them sitting second in the Ligue 1 standings, one point adrift of surprise leaders RC Lens.

It is fair to say that Les Parisiens have not displayed the same level of dominance seen in recent seasons, a notion underlined emphatically on Monday when they suffered a stunning 1-0 defeat to local rivals Paris FC in the Coupe de France Round of 32 — a result that abruptly ended their cup defence and undoubtedly dealt a blow to morale.

That shock exit has placed immediate pressure on head coach Luis Enrique to deliver a convincing response in the league. Nevertheless, the Spaniard will back his side to quickly return to winning ways, drawing confidence from PSG’s formidable home form, having overseen four consecutive home victories accompanied by a crushing aggregate scoreline of 11-1.

Squad depth will be tested once again, with first-choice right-back Achraf Hakimi still unavailable as he continues international duty with Morocco at the AFCON semi-finals. Meanwhile, backup goalkeeper Matvey Safonov remains sidelined with a broken hand, while Lee Kang-in is also ruled out through injury.

Meanwhile, LOSC Lille prepare to visit the French capital, sitting in a strong position in the Ligue 1 table. Currently fourth with 32 points, they are level on points with third-placed Marseille and remain firmly in the hunt for a coveted Champions League spot.

However, the Les Dogues have endured a rough start to the new year. Last weekend, they suffered a narrow 2-1 home defeat to Lyon, exiting the domestic cup, which followed a 2-0 loss to Rennes in their opening league fixture of 2026. With form wavering, Lille are eager to right the ship and regain momentum.

The northern club has earned a reputation as a resilient side, particularly on the road, boasting the third-best away record in the division. Yet recent trips to Parc des Princes tell a different story, with four consecutive losses and a combined 6-13 scoreline highlighting the challenges that await in the capital.

On the personnel front, the DR Congo duo of Chancel Mbemba and Ngal’ayel Mukau have returned following their national team’s AFCON exit, but centre-back Aïssa Mandi and forward Hamza Igamane remain engaged in the tournament’s final four with Algeria and will be unavailable for this clash.