Krong Angkor

PSG look to turn up the heat on Bordeaux

PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to prove their title aspirations as the winter break draws closer by toppling leaders Bordeaux in the French league on Saturday.

The Parisians are coming off two straight wins against Auxerre and Boulogne in the past week, which has seen them move up to seventh in the table.

But they face a tough task at Bordeaux, who marched two points clear of Lyon with a 3-0 win at Nancy last weekend.

Bordeaux have 28 points from 14 games with Lyon on 26 points, ahead of Auxerre on goal difference. PSG are six points behind the leaders.

The victory over Nancy ended a sticky run of two straight domestic losses which the Girondins will be keen to reverse.

PSG skipper Claude Makelele emphasised the importance of Saturday's game given his side's track record at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, where they have claimed just one win in the past decade.

"We have two days ahead of Bordeaux. We have to regroup. The most important thing is our fighting spirit. We mustn't lose that. It's what makes a team win and what we need the most," said Makelele.

And PSG coach Antoine Kombouare warned against over-confidence after their 5-2 win against second-from-bottom Boulogne in mid-week.

"Bordeaux aren't Boulogne. We'll go there with more confidence but against the French champions it will be difficult," he said.

Bordeaux will be boosted however by the return of French international playmaker Yoann Gourcuff following a groin strain which kept him out of their last three games, but Brazilian defender Henrique (knee) remains doubtful.

Montpellier, meanwhile, are back to action after swine flu resulted in nine players being quarantined and their last match against Monaco being postponed.

The southern side, currently fifth, four points behind Bordeaux with a game in hand, are training again after three days behind closed doors.

They will be hoping to avoid any ill-effects against relegation-threatened Le Mans, after just two matches in November due to the international break and the swine flu outbreak.

"Our biggest worry is to know how the bedridden players will recuperate," said physical coach Nicolas Girard.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Monaco, sitting ninth, travel to Valenciennes as fourth-placed Lorient visit fellow Brittany outfit Rennes. Marseille travel along the coast to Nice and Saint Etienne host Sochaux.

On Sunday, Lyon bid to get back to winning ways at 13th-placed Lille after failing to win any of their last five matches.

Lyon midfielder Jean II Makoun said they were trying to put the last month behind them.

"Given the results obviously we're not very happy," he said.

"We have to try and forget November, remain united and not get discouraged. We need to take points, to find the game that allowed us to play well at the beginning of the season."

Auxerre, without Polish international striker Ireneusz Jelen because of a torn bicep, host Nancy, as Boulogne look to pick themselves up against visiting Lens and bottom club Grenoble host Toulouse.

Fixtures

Saturday (1800GMT unless otherwise stated)

Valenciennes v Monaco, Saint Etienne v Sochaux, Rennes v Lorient, Nice v Marseille, Montpellier v Le Mans, Bordeaux v Paris Saint-Germain (2000GMT)

Sunday (1600GMT unless otherwise stated)