Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc, whose team are seeking a first league title since 1999, put the pressure on Marseille ahead of Sunday's game at the Stade Velodrome.
"It's an important game for Bordeaux but it's even more important for Marseille," he told reporters.
Marseille, who are fourth in the standings, have 38 points from 22 matches and lie five points adrift of leaders Olympique Lyon, while Bordeaux are second on 42 points.
Bordeaux striker David Bellion has been ruled out of the Marseille game with a groin injury, said Blanc.
Former Manchester United player Bellion picked up the injury during his side's 3-0 demolition of Paris St Germain in a French League Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
Retired Zinedine Zidane believes Girondins Bordeaux can pip seven-times champions Lyon for this year's Ligue 1 title.
Although Lyon have a narrow lead, they (Bordeaux) can be champions. They have a nice team, they play really nice football. They deserve to be champions," Zidane told reporters on Thursday while visiting Bordeaux, where he played for four years in the 1990s.
Paris St Germain keeper Mickael Landreau is confident his side will bounce back from the League Cup semi-final thrashing by Bordeaux when they travel to improving Nantes on Saturday.
"We are not that down after this defeat against Bordeaux. We have the opportunity to move up in the standings as two rivals play each other on Sunday," he told his club's website, referring to the Bordeaux v Marseille game.
PSG, who will be without Guillaume Hoarau because the striker picked up a knee injury, are third in Ligue 1, four points behind Lyon and one ahead of arch-rivals Marseille.
Serb Mateja Kezman has been suspended for two weeks by Paris St Germain for throwing his shirt on the pitch when replaced during the League Cup semi-final against Bordeaux, the club said.
"We needed to make a point," said PSG coach Paul Le Guen.
Nantes will be without Tony Hertebis for the remainder of the season after the number two keeper underwent back surgery on Thursday.
Stade Rennes midfielder Olivier Thomert is set to start Saturday's game at bottom club Le Havre after recovering from a fibula fracture, French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Friday.
Le Havre keeper Christophe Revault, whose team are on a seven-match losing streak, fears his team might concede yet another defeat as he believes Rennes are "currently the best team in Ligue 1".
"It's not the very best moment to play them," he told his club's website.
Le Havre have 12 points, nine points from safety.
