Paris (AFP)

Leader of the Ligue 1, Lyon will pass the mid-season course in the lead on Saturday, except underperformance in Rennes during a 19th day where Mauricio Pochettino will find the Parc des princes and Wissam Ben Yedder, perhaps, the way nets.

- The shock: Lyon autumn champion?

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Roazhon Park, still without a spectator, is the scene on Saturday (9 p.m.) of a top-of-the-table shock between Rennes, fourth in the standings frustrated Wednesday from Nantes (0-0), and Lyon, undefeated leader since mid-September.

The dynamic leans in favor of OL which, barring defeat, will be crowned in Brittany "autumn champion", an honorary title with the name somewhat shifted in this season with the disrupted calendar.

Only Paris SG and Lille, three points behind, can still rob him of this award.

But the Parisian club will have to beat Brest and bet on a victory for Rennes at the same time.

Lyon started the year 2021 with a victory against Lens (3-2), its third in a row under the leadership of captain Memphis Depay, author of a double.

Rennes was much more cautious against FC Nantes of Raymond Domenech, being unable to frame the slightest strike.

- The player: Ben Yedder -

Co-top scorer in the Championship (18 goals) last season, for his first at AS Monaco, Wissam Ben Yedder has had a less prosperous year.

If his counter shows 7 goals (and 4 assists) in 17 games played, the total is inflated by 4 penalties.

The 30-year-old center forward has not shaken the nets since his contamination with the new coronavirus, revealed during the Blues' internship in November, with one exception: a penalty, which he himself caused on the 12th. December at the end of the match against OM at the Vélodrome (2-1 loss).

More annoying, the international tricolor has not scored in the game since the 5th day and his double victorious against Strasbourg (3-2), September 27.

The Monegasque captain is expected at the bend for the Angers reception on Saturday.

The two teams are tied on points, six lengths from the podium.

- The number: 17 -

More than seventeen years later, Mauricio Pochettino will return to the Parc des Princes for a match of the French Championship.

The new coach of PSG, upset in Saint-Etienne (1-1) Wednesday for his first, has not walked the walls of the Porte d'Auteuil as a Parisian since May 20, 2003.

It was on this date that the Argentinian, captain's armband, played his last match in the PSG jersey.

There was then Frédéric Déhu, Fabrice Fiorèse or Ronaldinho at his side, and Rennes in the opposite camp (0-0).

Saturday, other Bretons will try to upset him: those of Brest, tenth after their 2-0 success in midweek against Nice.

"It will be a special night, it's almost 20 years since I played my last match with this jersey. It will be different, because there won't be the fans. I feel like I am at the club for a year, but it's only been five days, "said the person on Friday.

Pochettino, former central defender, played again at the Park after his departure from PSG.

The former central defender wore the Bordeaux jersey on December 13, 2003 during a 2-1 defeat for the Girondins in the Championship.

Program of the multiplex for the 19th day of Ligue 1 on Saturday 9 January:

(21h00) Dijon - Marseille

Metz - Nice

Bordeaux - Lorient

Montpellier - Nantes

Rennes - Lyon

Nimes - Lille

Monaco - Angers

Paris SG - Brest

Lens - Strasbourg

Reims - Saint-Etienne

© 2021 AFP