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'We've already beaten other favorites', Lyon's Endrick warns PSG / Photo: © AFP/File
'We've already beaten other favorites', Lyon's Endrick warns PSG
Brazilian forward Endrick told AFP that he believes his Lyon side can spring a surprise when they take on French and European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
The clash at PSG's Parc des Princes home will have repercussions on both the title race and on Lyon's bid to secure a place in the Champions League next season.
"I know everyone will say they are the favorites, but we've already beaten other favorites," Real Madrid loanee Endrick said in comments sent to AFP late on Friday by his press team.
PSG enter the fixture in fine form, sitting one point clear atop Ligue 1 and having qualified for the Champions League semi-finals after beating Premier League title-holders Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate.
Lens' win on Friday has chipped away at PSG's lead but ahead of their meeting with Lyon they now have two games in hand on their surprise title challengers.
As the season reaches its business end, the side from the French capital are fully locked in to replicating their historic 2024/25 campaign, in which they won Ligue 1 and lifted the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history.
"It's going to be a tough game. The biggest title in Europe is still theirs, and they have the Ballon d'Or winner (Ousmane Dembele) in their squad, as well as several players who will be at the World Cup," Endrick added.
- 'Back to winning ways' -
As for Lyon, they sit fifth in the French league with 51 points. However, they are just one point behind fourth-placed Marseille, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
Endrick, 19, is trying to recapture the blistering form he showed when he first joined Lyon in January from parent-club Real Madrid -- in a bid to earn more playing time to secure his place in Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup.
The teenager, who came through the Palmeiras youth system in his home country, made a scintillating start to life in France, which included a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Metz.
But his form has tapered off since.
After scoring five goals in his first five matches, Endrick has found the net just once in his last 11 outings in all competitions.
The Brazilian going off the boil has also coincided with Lyon encountering a tough patch, although they returned to winning ways last Sunday, beating Lorient in a match in which Endrick started on the bench.
"We're back to winning ways again and our aim is to secure a place in the Champions League," Endrick said.
A. Bogdanow--BTZ
