Paris Saint-Germain can put the disappointment of their midweek European exit behind them by beating Lille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday in one of the biggest games of the French season so far.
The capital club had been banking on a long run in the Europa League, but a 4-2 win against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday was not enough to prevent them from being eliminated at the group stage, ruling out any chance of a meeting with a continental giant such as Manchester City or Manchester United in the last 32.
However, winning the title remains the ultimate goal for the campaign, and Paris are back level with Montpellier at the top of the Ligue 1 table on the back of successive victories against Auxerre and Sochaux.
"It's a huge disappointment because we were good enough to get through," said PSG coach Antoine Kombouare in the immediate aftermath of his team's European exit.
"Now we have to keep moving forward and draw on this victory. It's a third consecutive victory and that's the best possible way to prepare for the Lille match on Sunday."
A victory would put PSG five points clear of the defending champions, who have had to get over their own European heartache, having been knocked out of the Champions League.
However, Rudi Garcia's side travel south in third place in the table and are unbeaten in their last 15 league games, a club record.
"PSG are a team we respect a lot," said Lille's Cameroon defender Aurelien Chedjou.
"We know that it will be a difficult game because they have such quality players, but I think we have the desire and the capability to go and get a positive result there."
Lille have not beaten PSG at the Parc des Princes since 1996, but they do have the best away record in the league this season and they also have happy memories of their most recent meetings with the capital side.
In May, they emerged victorious when the teams clashed in the French Cup final at the Stade de France, before a 2-2 draw at PSG a week later sealed their first league title since 1954.
PSG have a slight doubt over Jeremy Menez (calf), while Blaise Matuidi is out but Guillaume Hoarau could feature after making his comeback from a shoulder injury against Athletic Bilbao.
Benoit Pedretti could return to the Lille line-up.
Montpellier held on to top spot on goal difference despite seeing their eight-match unbeaten run ended in defeat at Valenciennes last time out.
Rene Girard's side can go provisionally three points clear again if they can beat Toulouse on Saturday, although they face a tough test against a side renowned for their defensive strength and who come into the weekend in sixth spot.
Elsewhere on Saturday, fresh from winning their last four games in all competitions, a revitalised Lyon entertain Evian in a match that sees Sidney Govou return to face his former club.
Govou is a veteran of all seven of Lyon's championship-winning campaigns, although injuries and poor form mean he has played only a peripheral role since moving to Evian in the summer.
Like PSG, Rennes bowed out of the Europa League in midweek, but the Breton side are fifth in Ligue 1 and will be confident of claiming all three points when they travel to Corsica to face rock-bottom Ajaccio on Sunday.
Both Saint-Etienne and Marseille have lost just once in their last 11 league games and remain hopeful of joining in the fight for European places as they face Dijon and Lorient respectively.
Caen against Nancy, Nice v Valenciennes and Brest against Auxerre complete the Saturday line-up, while Sunday's other game sees Bordeaux coach Francis Gillot take on his former side Sochaux.
Fixtures (1800GMT unless otherwise stated)
Saturday:
Brest v Auxerre, Caen v Nancy, Dijon v Saint-Etienne, Marseille v Lorient, Montpellier v Toulouse, Nice v Valenciennes, Lyon v Evian-TG (2000GMT)
Sunday:
Ajaccio v Rennes (1600GMT), Bordeaux v Sochaux (1600GMT) Paris Saint-Germain v Lille (2000GMT)
Source: AFP
