Ligue 1 preview: PSG look to rebound

Paris Saint-Germain bowed out of the Coupe de France on Wednesday, but they still control proceedings in the battle for Ligue 1 honours.

PSG suffered their first competitive defeat of 2012 in midweek, going down 3-1 at home to Lyon in the Coupe de France quarter-finals.

They are still two points clear of Montpellier in the league standings, and France international Jeremy Menez can take his fair share of the credit for their impressive campaign.

Midfielder Menez, an off-season acquisition from Roma, has made 25 appearances for PSG this term, netting four goals.

“I think overall the season has been satisfying,” he told France Football.

“I know that I can still do better. There are 10 more games in the league for me to show it and that is motivating. But I am happy with my performances and with my return to France.”

Menez and his PSG colleagues may find themselves deposed from top spot by the time of their match at home to Bordeaux on Sunday.

A day earlier, second-placed Montpellier host Saint Etienne, hungry for maximum points to put pressure on the front-runners.

The title battle is shaping as a two-horse race, with the defending champions, third-placed Lille, a distant seven points behind Montpellier.

Lille, who have only managed one win from four, are away at promoted club Evian on Saturday.

On the same day, relegation-threatened Ajaccio await the visit of Lorient, and Brest host Nancy in a mid-table clash.

Lyon, fifth in the standings, will look to close in on fourth-placed Toulouse with victory at home to Sochaux.

The spot light this week is likely to fall on Didier Deschamps’ Marseille, who endured their seventh consecutive defeat in all competitions with a 3-2 extra-time loss at third-division Quevilly in the Coupe de France.

Marseille, now down to ninth in the league, travel to face third-bottom Nice.

In the other match on Saturday, seventh-placed Rennes are on the road at Valenciennes.

On Sunday, aside from PSG vs Bordeaux, fourth-placed Toulouse are at home to bottom side Auxerre, while two struggling teams meet when Caen go to Dijon.