Two sides with 100% records to protect go head-to-head at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Game week 3 of the new Ligue 1 season sees two sides that have taken maximum points so far this season battle it out on Sunday, as Lille host PSG.
Luis Enrique's Parisians ruthlessly dispatched Montpellier 6-0 last week at the Parc des Princes, with six different players getting on the scoresheet. Lille made it two wins on the spin with a convincing 2-0 victory over Angers.
PSG and France striker Bradley Barcola has already hit three goals so far this season, including the opener for his side in the rout of Montpellier last weekend. Sunday's game is live on BeIn Sports, which holds broadcast rights for Ligue 1 matches in the US.
There are a number of options for watching BeIN. Several cable and satellite TV providers in the US offer the network as part of their channel lineup, including Dish Network, Optimum and Spectrum (the latter requiring $7 per month for the Sports View add-on). If you're a cord-cutter, there's a whole host of streaming platforms that carry BeIN Sports.
With an excellent channel selection, easy-to-use interface and best-in-class cloud DVR, the $73 per month YouTube TV is one of the best cable TV replacements. In order to watch BeIN Sports on the platform you'll need its Sports Plus add-on, which costs an additional $11 per month. Read our YouTube TV review.
BeIN is available on Sling TV as part of its Sports Extra add-on for either Sling Orange or Sling Blue. Its Orange and Blue packages start at $40 per month, and you can combine them for a monthly rate of $55 ($60 in some regions), with Sports Extra costing an extra $11 a month. The Orange option nets you one stream, while Blue gives you three. It's not as comprehensive or as easy to navigate as YouTube, but with a bit of work, including adding an antenna or an AirTV 2 DVR, it's unbeatable value. We'll also add that the service offers local channels such as ABC and CBS in some regions where the monthly rate is $45. Read our Sling TV review.
There's a lot to like about Fubo. In addition to BeIN Sports, it offers a wide selection of channels, plus its sports focus makes it especially attractive to soccer fans, as well as NBA, NHL and MLB fans who live in an area served by one of Fubo's RSNs. It's also a great choice for NFL fans, since it's one of three services, alongside YouTube TV and Hulu, that offer NFL Network and optional RedZone. The biggest hole in Fubo's lineup is the lack of Warner Bros. Discovery networks, including HGTV, Food Network, Cartoon Network, CNN, TNT and TBS -- especially since the latter two carry a lot of sports content, in particular NBA, NHL and MLB. Those missing channels, and the $80 price tag, makes it less attractive than YouTube TV for most viewers. Read our Fubo review.
On top of this, BeIN Sports Connect is the network's standalone streaming platform. You can log in with your cable or streaming service credentials if your provider has BeIN in the package. This allows you to stream live matches and other programming on various devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops and so on). Make sure to check if BeIN Sports is included in the specific package or plan you are considering, as it might be part of a sports bundle or require an additional subscription.
If you find yourself unable to view Ligue 1 matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
As with the US, BeIN Sports is where it's at for fans of French soccer looking to watch this match in Canada, with the network holding the rights to broadcast Ligue 1 matches in the region this season.
BeIN Sports is available on select Canadian cable and satellite providers including Bell TV, Rogers and Shaw Direct, while cord-cutters can access BeIN through streaming service Fubo Canada.
Fubo is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the final games of the EPL season, with exclusive streaming rights to every match on Sunday. It costs CA$30 a month, though you can save some cash by paying quarterly or annually.
French football fans in the UK were left up in the air at the start of the season, following TNT Sport's decision not to renew broadcast rights for Ligue 1. Thankfully there's now at last an option for watching games live, with dedicated streaming platform Ligue 1 Pass now up and running and showing today's game live.
French football fans can now watch every Ligue 1 game live on subscription streaming service Ligue 1 Pass. The service is priced at £10 per month, and can be accessed via the Ligue 1 Pass website. Dedicated apps for Apple and Android devices are set to become available for the service in the coming weeks.
No mainstream broadcaster currently owns the rights to show Ligue 1 football this season Down Under.
If you subscribe to an overseas streaming service that's showing the game, such as Fubo, a VPN service will allow you to change your online location, allowing you to watch your domestic coverage.
Nuno Mendes and Matvey Safonov will miss Paris Saint-Germain’s fixture against Lille OSC on Sunday night after being struck down by a virus.
With the challenge of facing Edon Zhegrova, Luis Enrique is expected to align Willian Pacho at left-back, rather than Lucas Beraldo, who is expected to feature centrally alongside captain Marquinhos. Whilst there are no fresh absences for Luis Enrique to contend with, the Spanish manager remains without Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez and Gonçalo Ramos. There is hope that, after an absence of 18 months, the former may return following the international break.
PSG are expected to opt to start Marco Asensio up front, with the usual candidates, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé, out wide.
BRADLEY BARCOLA is enjoying the post-Kylian Mbappe life, the winger netting three times already in just 81 minutes of domestic action. It means he is already one goal away from last season's tally and a third of the way into his all time goal scoring total across the previous four seasons in the French top tier.
According to the odds, PSG have a 58% chance of netting at least two goals in Lille, so given Barcola's hot start to the season, his 7/2 price to TO SCORE ANYTIME appeals.
It has been a season of highs and lows so far for Angel Gomes. The former Manchester United man suffered a concussion in the opening game of the Ligue 1 concern, leading so considerable concern over his health. He was, however, quickly released from hospital, although he has, until now, been forbidden from returning to action.
Earlier this week, he then received his first call-up to the England national team. He has now been permitted to return to action and he will be in the squad to face Paris Sainnt-Germain when Lille OSC face the reigning Ligue 1 champions on Sunday night. However, it is unlikely that he will start.
Bruno Genesio is not expected to spring any surprises with Ethan Mbappé expected to start on the bench against his former side, PSG. Mitchel Bakker, signed on deadline day, Ismaily, and Samuel Umititi are out for Lille.
Lucas Chevalier; Alexsandro, Bafodé Diakité, Aïssa Mandi; Gabriel Gudmundsson, Aron Hakor Haraldsson, Benjamin André, Thomas Meunier; Osame Sahraoui, Edon Zhegrova; Jonathan David. (L’Éq)
