Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
AFP/Paris
Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco return to Ligue 1 action at the weekend aiming to put their midweek European woes behind them.
PSG may have been outclassed by FC Barcelona 5-1 on aggregate in their Champions League quarter-final, but they are still in the race for an unprecedented domestic treble, having already won the League Cup before facing Auxerre in the final of the French Cup on May 30.
Laurent Blanc’s men, currently second on goal difference with a game a in hand over rivals Lyon, host Lille on Saturday with little margin for error as Lyon face strugglers Reims in Sunday’s late game, looking for what, on paper, should be an easy three points.
“Now we have to focus on the two remaining competitions to win all four domestic trophies (along with the Super Cup, the Trophee des Champions). It would be a first in France,” star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said after the Barca defeat.
“We have everything it takes to win the league and the Cup. We will do everything we can for this treble,” insisted defender Maxwell.
PSG now have six games left to secure their third consecutive title—but in-form Lille will be no pushovers.
After a faltering start of the season, they are currently eighth, just four points behind sixth-placed Bordeaux, who occupy what could provide a passport to European competition should PSG win the Cup.
It was an all-too-familiar story for Monaco on Wednesday, as couldn’t find a way to unlock the Juventus defence, but harbour hopes of returning to Champions League football next season.
A win over bottom-of-the-table Lens would go a long way towards achieving that goal for the Principality side, currently third, six points adrift of PSG and Lyon but two ahead of Marseille.
“Now is time to focus on the league,” admitted Tunisian defender Aymen Abdennour.
“We need to win our five remaining games to finish, at least, in third place.”
Marseille, meanwhile, host Lorient on Friday hoping to put an end to the slump which, after last week’s defeat at Nantes, has dented their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men topped the table going into the winter break but now have a real fight on their hands to secure a top-three finish.
The battle for Europa League places is hotting up and hopefuls Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux and Montpellier will be looking for points to book their ticket.
Montpellier, who are seventh, head to Saint-Etiennem who are five points ahead of them, in a make or break clash while Bordeaux take on all-but-relegated Metz.
Elsewhere, Caen host Guingamp in clash of two sides on the fringes of the fight to avoid the drop, while Evian host Bastia in a battle of potential relegation candidates and Toulouse face Nantes.
