Wounded Paris resume title chase

Paris Saint-Germain will have little time to lick their wounds following their Champions League loss to Barcelona as they turn their focus back to the Ligue 1 title race and a trip to Nice.

PSG are staring at a third successive exit from the Champions League at the quarter-final stage after losing 3-1 at home to Barcelona in the first leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

The second leg at the Camp Nou awaits next Tuesday, but Laurent Blanc's side can ill afford a slip-up when they face Nice, 650 kilometres along the Mediterranean coast, at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday afternoon.

Blanc acknowledged the game is one his side "absolutely have to win" as they lie a point behind leaders Lyon, albeit with a game in hand.

Already banned against Barcelona in midweek, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti will be suspended again, while captain Thiago Silva came off with a thigh injury in the first half on Wednesday and Blanc may not be willing to risk David Luiz after he had to play 70 minutes of the Champions League game after being rushed back from a hamstring problem.

Having already beaten Lyon, Monaco and Marseille this season, mid-table Nice may therefore fancy their chances as they look to pull further clear of the relegation zone.

However, when asked if he thought this was a good time to face PSG, Nice coach Claude Puel replied: "I don't think so. I would have preferred to play PSG after a good result. For them, for French football and for us.

"They didn't play as well as they would have wanted against the Catalans and they will be eager to put in a better showing against us."

Lyon reclaimed top spot on Wednesday when they beat Bastia 2-0 thanks to late goals by Mohamed Yattara and Alexandre Lacazette, the latter getting his 25th in the league this season.

- Rhone derby -

Hubert Fournier's side have won their last two outings to boost their title chances but now they play host to Saint-Etienne in the most passionate derby in French football at the Stade de Gerland on Sunday evening.

Lyon may have home advantage but Les Verts come into the Rhone derby in great shape, a run of seven games unbeaten in the league leaving them fifth in the table, two points shy of the podium.

In addition, having struggled so badly in the derby for the last two decades, Christophe Galtier's team won 3-0 at home to Lyon in November and have lost on just one of their last six visits to their rivals.

"It is a chance for us to make the supporters and the city proud. It would be great if we could repeat our performance of last season but Lyon will want revenge," said Saint-Etienne midfielder Jeremy Clement, who started his career with Lyon.

Monaco currently occupy the third and last qualifying berth for next season's Champions League as they prepare to welcome Rennes to the Stade Louis II on Saturday.

"For me it is the key game that we have to win if we are to finish on the podium. It is the most important match in Ligue 1 this year," said Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim.

His team are unbeaten in eight league games but this match falls between the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Juventus and captain Jeremy Toulalan could again miss out with a hamstring problem.

A point behind Monaco in fourth, Marseille are at Nantes on Friday, while Bordeaux in sixth go to in-form Lille on Sunday.

At the foot, the bottom two Metz and Lens meet in what is almost certainly the last chance for either to avoid the drop.

Fixtures (kick-offs 1800 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Nantes v Marseille (1830 GMT)

Saturday

Nice v Paris Saint-Germain (1500 GMT), SC Bastia v Reims, Guingamp v Evian, Lorient v Toulouse, Metz v Lens, Monaco v Rennes

Sunday

Lille v Bordeaux (1200 GMT), Montpellier v Caen (1500 GMT), Lyon v Saint-Etienne (1900 GMT)
Source: AFP