Ligue 1 preview: PSG, Lille in top-three battle

Second meets third in Ligue 1 on Sunday when Paris Saint-Germain host reigning champions Lille at the Parc des Princes.

Antoine Kombouare’s PSG side, who are second on the table on goal difference from leaders Montpellier, will still be smarting after their elimination from the Europa League on Wednesday.

PSG enjoyed a 4-2 win over Athletic Bilbao at home, but Salzburg’s 3-2 win at Slovan Bratislava saw Kombouare’s men pipped for second place in Group F.

Big-spending PSG have endured a tough run in recent weeks, being beaten 1-0 by Nancy on November 20 before a 3-0 thumping at Marseille a week later.

Since then they have won two league matches in succession, struggling to a 3-2 home triumph over Auxerre before a Kevin Gameiro goal handed them a 1-0 win at Sochaux in their last league game.

Gameiro has been their go-to man in front of goal, netting nine times in Ligue 1, while Brazilian winger Nene and Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore have scored seven and six respectively.

Lille, who are two points behind PSG in third place, are unbeaten in the league since a 1-0 defeat to Montpellier on August 14 and coach Rudi Garcia will be hoping for more good form from front men Moussa Sow and Eden Hazard, who have scored six league goals apiece this term.

Sunday’s other games see Bordeaux play host to Sochaux while fifth-placed Stade Rennes visit bottom side AJ Ajaccio.

Leaders Montpellier are in action on Saturday, when they take on sixth-placed Toulouse at La Mosson, with coach Rene Girard keen to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat at lowly Valenciennes in their last league game.

Also on Saturday, fourth-placed Lyon welcome Evian, relegation strugglers Nancy travel to Caen and Marseille will hope to improve on their eighth place when they host Lorient at the Stade Velodrome.

Second-bottom Nice entertain Valenciennes, who are just two points clear of the drop zone, St Etienne are at Dijon while Auxerre visit Brest.