Ligue 1 preview: PSG look to end slump

7 March 2013 12:45

Leaders Paris Saint-Germain will host Nancy in the French capital, while challengers Lyon and Marseille do battle in Ligue 1 this weekend.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have fallen to two shock defeats in their past three league clashes, most recently going down to relegation-threatened Reims.

They will also have to back up from a mid-week Champions League date with Valencia, making the task all the tougher for PSG when Nancy visit on Saturday.

However, going in their favour is Nancy's length absentee list - with Fouad Rachid, Florent Zitte, Ziri Hammar, Jean Joachim, Romain Grange and Vincent Muratori all sidelined for the clash.

Nancy, who sit second last in the table, will take some solace from the fact the two sides who have beaten PSG recently - Reims and Sochaux - are also both in the midst of a relegation battle.

Meanwhile, Marseille can draw level with second-placed Lyon on 52 points with a victory in their clash at the Stade de Gerland.

It will be a tough task for Elie Baup's men though, as Lyon are unbeaten in four in all competitions.

Marseille bounced back from consecutive defeats to PSG in the league and Coupe de France, with an unconvincing come-from-behind win over bottom club Troyes at home.

In action on Friday night, Rennes will entertain fourth-placed Saint-Etienne - with the visitors on a 12-match unbeaten streak.

Rennes can move within three points of Christophe Galtier's men should they put an end to Saint-Etienne's run.

On Saturday, Ajaccio will be out to snap a run of back-to-back losses when they host mid-table Lorient.

Troyes (20th) welcome Reims (16th) in a relegation six-pointer, while Evian (18th) and Sochaux (17th) will similarly meet in a match that will have some effect on the shape of the bottom three.

Brest are unbeaten in three, and can continue their form when they host Toulouse - who have drawn their past three.

Valenciennes are targeting an end to Lille's four-match winning streak when they go head to head.

On Sunday, fifth-placed Nice will hope to hold off Montpellier in sixth at the Stade Municipal du Ray, before Bordeaux can put an end to a four-match losing streak at home to Bastia.