Previews: Gonzalez back to boost Marseille

Argentina midfielder Gonzalez, who joined the Provence club from Porto during the close season, has yet to play a match in the French league after fracturing his left collarbone in a pre-season friendly.

He has, however, recovered and is expected to make an impact on Marseille's attacking game, just as he did in the few warm-up games he played before getting injured.

Marseille lie fifth in the standings with two wins and as many draws, two points behind leaders and champions Girondins Bordeaux.

"A player with such class will bring a technical touch to our game," midfielder Benoit Cheyrou, one of Marseille's key players this season, told local daily La Provence this week.

"He is the one who will make the link between the defensive and attacking moves. He will have an important role," coach Didier Deschamps told reporters.

"He is a top level player and he is here to make the difference."

Bordeaux, who have won three of their four games, are expected to make light work of Grenoble on Saturday with playmaker Yoann Gourcuff back from international duty with France.

The team from the wine capital will be without fullback Mathieu Chalme, who is suspended, and could also have to make do without defender Franck Jurietti after he was sent off in a friendly against Spanish side Osasuna last Friday. The French Football Federation (FFF) still has to rule on the matter.

Third-placed Olympique Lyon, who like Bordeaux have 10 points from four games, could be without defender Jean-Alain Boumsong and talismanic striker Lisandro Lopez when they host Lorient on Saturday.

The French defender and the Argentine striker are both suffering from groin injuries.

Second-placed Paris St Germain, also on 10 points, travel to Monaco on Sunday without Turkey striker Mevlut Erding, who will undergo shoulder surgery.