Ligue 1 Previews: Lyon must ignore Barcelona

Olympique Lyon coach Claude Puel urged his players to stay focused on Saturday's match at Nancy despite the Ligue 1 leader's Champions League game against Barcelona next week.

"We first must think about Nancy before Barcelona. Our challenge is to be present even in such circumstances," Puel told reporters.

Lyon are threatened by Paris St Germain, who are second in the standings four points adrift.

Olympique Marseille coach Eric Gerets was quick to turn his sights on Sunday's league game against Le Mans following his side's 1-0 home defeat to Twente Enschede in the UEFA Cup last 32 first leg on Thursday.

"My goal is now to win this weekend. Of course, we are hugely disappointed and we could cry for three days. But as soon as tomorrow (Friday) morning, I will do the impossible so we can grab all three points on Sunday", said Gerets.

Marseille are third in Ligue 1, five points behind Lyon.

Paris St Germain striker Guillaume Hoarau believes the capital side have become the team to beat in Ligue 1 ahead of their trip to promoted Grenoble on Sunday.

"Everybody wants to beat PSG. It's normal, it's the club from the capital. It's PSG. Grenoble will be especially motivated since they beat us in our first encounter this season so they will want to do it again," said Hoarau, who helped PSG win four of their last five league games.

"We travel with a serene mind but we are warned. They are waiting for us and we know it."

Girondins Bordeaux's current poor form is mainly due to bad luck, said coach Laurent Blanc. The Aquitaine side, fifth in the Ligue 1 standings, have drawn two and lost one of the last three league matches as they travel to strugglers St Etienne on Sunday.

"If we take a look back, we can see that we hit the woodwork against Lille, Marseille and Grenoble but also tonight," Blanc told reporters on Thursday following his team's 0-0 draw against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup.

Toulouse keeper Cedric Carasso is expected to be back from an ankle injury as his side, fourth in the standings, host strugglers Valenciennes on Saturday, French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Friday.

Stade Rennes playmaker Jerome Leroy has been ruled out of his team's trip to Nice on Saturday with a knee injury, said the Brittany side.