No margin for error for PSG, Lyon

Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon continue their game of cat and mouse at the top of Ligue 1 this weekend as they face Nantes and Evian respectively.

PSG opened up a three-point lead over Lyon at the top of the table on Tuesday with a 3-1 win in their game in hand against Metz, putting the defending champions in the driver's seat with just four matches remaining.

The capital club have, on paper at least, an easier route to the title as their first step takes them to mid-table Nantes, where they haven't lost since 2004.

Any fears that PSG would take their foot off the gas following their deflating Champions League quarter-final exit to Barcelona have been allayed with their displays in their last two outings, a 6-1 demolition of Lille being followed by the victory against Metz.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic back from his three-match ban, Paris coach Laurent Blanc has a difficult decision over who to drop out of in-form trio Javier Pastore, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani.

But it is the kind of dilemma most coaches would love to have, and former France and Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, who won titles in charge of both PSG, in 1986, and Lyon, in 2006 and 2007, believes the capital side are now poised to secure a third consecutive Ligue 1 title.

"Even if the race is still wide open, the Parisians are 80 percent favourites for me," the 67-year old told sports daily L'Equipe.

"For Lyon to be champions, they will have to win all of their games and hope for a PSG slip-up. But the Parisians are on the upswing."

Lyon coach Hubert Fournier also conceded his side's titles hopes are out of their hands but insisted they would give PSG a run for their money.

"We no longer hold our destiny in our hands," Fournier admitted ahead of the meeting with relegation-threatened Evian.

- 'Still believe' -

"But it's up to us to give our all right to the death so we have no regrets should Paris eventually slip up. If they don't falter, that doesn't really change anything -- we still have the desire to get the best possible result every time.

"We still believe in our chances even though we're up against a side who are having a great season, and who possess one of the best squads in Europe -- better than Chelsea, for example."

Fournier is waiting on the fitness of forward Nabil Fekir, who has a slight back problem, but will again look to 26-goal leading scorer Alexandre Lacazette as they attempt to extend a four-game unbeaten run.

Leaders at Christmas, Marseille's title challenge has crumbled in 2015 and their meltdown has been so dramatic that even second-bottom Metz fancy their chances for their showdown on Friday.

While Marseille are now five points adrift of a Champions League qualifying berth, Metz are eight points from safety and so could be relegated this weekend if they lose and other results go their way.

Elsewhere, third-placed Monaco host strugglers Toulouse while Saint-Etienne, in fourth, go to Corsica to face Bastia.

On Sunday, Lille face local rivals Lens, who are rock bottom and must win and hope other results go their way to put off an inevitable relegation back to Ligue 2.

Fixtures (all times 1800 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Metz v Marseille (1830 GMT)

Saturday

Lyon v Evian (1500 GMT), Bastia v Saint-Etienne, Lorient v Bordeaux, Montpellier v Rennes, Guingamp v Reims, Nice v Caen

Sunday

Lille v Lens (1200 GMT), Monaco v Toulouse (1500 GMT), Nantes v Paris Saint-Germain (1900 GMT)
Source: AFP