Three of France's top clubs will have to put aside European midweek misadventures and concentrate on catching up pace-setters Paris Saint Germain in weekend league action in Ligue 1.
Though not in the Champions League PSG are not entirely unencumbered by European commitments -- they were in Europa League action on Thursday.
But come Sunday they should have recuperated sufficiently to take three points in what on the surface looks to comprise a home banker against modest Dijon at the Parc des Princes.
The Parisians, buoyed by Qatari capital this season after years in the wilderness -- their last title came in 1984 -- lead the table by three points with Montpellier and Lyon heading the chasing pack.
The Champions League may have kept seven-times domestic champions Lyon in financial clover in recent seasons, but the easterners need a tonic this week after a 4-0 mauling at Real Madrid.
And Lyon could hardly have asked for a tougher fixture to put their European woes to the back of their minds -- a visit to reigning champions Lille.
Lille have also found the midweek step-up a taxing business and a home loss to Inter Milan left their hopes of a place in the Champions League knockout stages hanging by a thread with just two points from three games.
In the league, Joe Cole and company are just a point shy of Lyon but will need to overcome a recent tendency to draw must-win games if they are to rein in PSG.
Sunday's fixtures:
Auxerre v Rennes, Paris St Germain v Dijon (1500 GMT); Lille v Lyon (1900)
Source: AFP
