Record unbeaten run beckons leaders PSG

Paris Saint Germain take on Lorient at the Parc des Princes tomorrow, needing only to avoid defeat to break Nantes’ 20-year-old record unbeaten run in Ligue 1.
The runaway league leaders saw off a stubborn Saint Etienne 2-0 on Sunday to notch a 13th consecutive win and extend their streak without a loss to 32 matches. They have totally dominated French football in the last few years, but this season they have found a higher level as their rivals have fallen away.
Laurent Blanc’s men are now a staggering 24 points clear of second-placed Monaco after the principality outfit were well-beaten at surprise package Angers. Lorient should not pose much of a threat to PSG’s record bid, although manager Blanc may choose to ring the changes after a run of five games in a fortnight.  
The luxury of the depth of the Frenchman’s squad is far greater than any other manager in the division can enjoy, but Blanc said after Sunday’s match that he does mention records to his expensively-assembled group of players.
“There’s been a great deal of talk about the record and it helped me motivate the players, even if they don’t really need that,” Blanc said.
“I ask a lot from the players, I demand it. And what I take away tonight as much as the record is the way this team never gives up.”
PSG were pushed hard for long periods by a feisty Les Verts before closing out victory with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s sixth league brace this term.  The defending champions will be without the injured defending trio of Thiago Silva, David Luiz and Gregory van der Wiel for the visit of Lorient, but it is hard to see Sylvain Ripoll’s men throwing much caution to the wind in the capital.
Monaco currently occupy second place in the table despite having a nine-match unbeaten run ended by a comprehensive loss at third-placed Angers on Saturday. Leonardo Jardim’s side will be expecting to finish in the top three and qualify for a third successive Champions League campaign. They kick off the midweek programme today evening when they host Bastia, who gave their new manager Francois Ciccolini the perfect start with victory over Lyon at the weekend.
Both Lyon and Marseille have been struggling. Lyon, who were runners-up last season have now won just one of their last 10 Ligue 1 matches and new head coach Bruno Genesio will be looking for just his second win in charge when they host in-form Bordeaux tomorrow.
Marseille, meanwhile, have not won at the Velodrome in the league since September 13 against Bastia and their Spanish manager Michel is still struggling to turn the tide of negativity on the south coast. His most recent move was to bring much-maligned winger Florian Thauvin back to the club on loan from Newcastle United, and the 23-year-old could be in the lineup for the game against Montpellier.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Today: Monaco vs Bastia (1800); Montpellier vs Marseille (2000)
Tomorrow: Guingamp vs Troyes (1800); Nantes vs Gazelec Ajaccio (1800); Lille vs Caen (1800); Nice vs Toulouse (1800); Lyon vs Bordeaux (1800); Reims vs Angers (1800); PSG
vs Lorient (2000). On Thursday: Rennes vs St Etienne 2000)