Marseille, Lyon set for Cup final rehearsal
Having both booked their places in the French League Cup final in mid-week, Marseille and Lyon meet on Sunday for a dress rehearsal that could have significant bearing on the battle for Champions League qualification.
Marseille, who beat neighbours Nice 2-1 on Wednesday, are France's form team with eight consecutive victories in all competitions behind them.
They are now up to fifth in the Ligue 1 table, just two points below the Champions League places, and a win over fourth-placed Lyon at Stade Velodrome would lift them above Remi Garde's side in the standings.
Victory over Nice came at a cost, however, with Mathieu Valbuena sent off after being shown a harsh second yellow card for taking a free-kick before the official had blown his whistle.
Valbuena, who tops the league's assists chart with 11 decisive passes, has been a key figure in OM's winter revival and teammate Alou Diarra was left to rue the suspension that has ruled the diminutive midfielder out of Sunday's game.
"It's the first time I've seen a red card like that," said Diarra.
"We're losing an important player who's in form for a free-kick that was taken too quickly. I find that stupid."
Valbuena's absence gives Didier Deschamps further problems as the OM coach was already missing Ghanaian brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew due to their participation at the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as injured pair Stephane Mbia (thigh) and Andre-Pierre Gignac (groin).
Sunday's game will also be the first since Argentine midfielder Lucho Gonzalez returned to former club Porto on transfer deadline day, while Morgan Amalfitano complained of pain in his shoulder on Wednesday evening.
Souleymane Diawara and Charles Kabore have, however, both returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty and Deschamps will be glad of their presence against a team who showed great heart to fight back from two goals down to beat Lorient 4-2 in their League Cup semifinal on Tuesday.
"Lyon are a team like us, who are still involved in four competitions," said Deschamps. "I watched their match yesterday (Tuesday). They have quality, talent and mental strength. It'll be a top-level contest on Sunday night."
Lyon won the reverse fixture 2-0 in September but lost 1-0 at Montpellier last month in their most recent fixture against a fellow Champions League candidate.
Leaders Paris Saint-Germain, three points clear of Montpellier, could give debuts to Brazilian centre-back Alex and Italy international midfielder Thiago Motta in their home game with Evian on Saturday.
Alex signed from Chelsea last week, while Motta arrived from Inter Milan on the final day of the January transfer window on Tuesday.
Montpellier host Brest on Saturday, with third-placed Lille visiting second-bottom Sochaux on Sunday.
Reigning champions Lille are seven points behind PSG in third place but on-loan midfielder Joe Cole has not given up on the title yet.
"I think that Lille can be champions," he told Thursday's L'Equipe.
"Looking at it from a distance, like everyone, I'd say that Paris will be champions. But I think that we can fight."
Auxerre coach Laurent Fournier received a vote of confidence from the club's board earlier this week after last weekend's 3-1 loss at home to Nancy left his side in the relegation zone.
Sunday's hosts Caen are experiencing similar difficulties, having gone 10 games without victory in all competitions.
Fixtures
Saturday: 8pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) unless stated:
Ajaccio v Nice, Dijon v Valenciennes, Montpellier v Brest, Nancy v Rennes, Paris Saint-Germain v Evian, Saint-Etienne v Lorient, Bordeaux v Toulouse: (10pm)
Sunday (6pm):
Caen v Auxerre, Sochaux v Lille, Marseille v Lyon (8pm)