PSG, Marseille paired in Cup quarters

ParisSaint-Germain, seeking a fourth straight French Cup, were drawn onThursday against their bitter rivals and closest challengers in Ligue 1,Marseille, in this year’s quarter-finals. This edition of the French“clasico” is also a repeat of the 2016 final which PSG won, 4-2.Italso means that the two clubs will meet twice in a few days. Marseillevisit Paris in Ligue 1 on February 25 and now must return for the cupgame two or three days later. In the only other quarter-final matchingtwo Ligue 1 clubs Lyon, were drawn way to Caen. Les Herbiers, from thethird division, will play at home to second-division Lens. The otherquarter-final will pit another third-division club, Chambly, against thewinner of Thursday night’s game between third-division Grenoble andLigue 1 Strasbourg.Today, leaders PSG play in Toulouse in a last runout before the Valentine’s Day Champions League encounter with RealMadrid. PSG are 11 points clear of second-placed Marseille. PSG willbe without Kylian Mbappe after French football’s disciplinarycommission announced on Thursday that the young French striker would bebanned for a second match for a foul on Ismaila Sarr of Rennes duringthe League Cup semi-final on January 30.Mbappe suffered a knock inJanuary and has struggled for form. The enforced absence allows him torest but also offers Angel Di Maria, who has been in sparkling form, thechance to cement a place in the lineup.Paris Saint-Germain coachUnai Emery underlined the importance of today’s match against Toulouse.“Toulouse are a very competitive side and have won their last two games,without conceding a goal, since changing coach. It will be very hard tofind space. They will be extra motivated to play us at home, in frontof their fans. We have to stay focused to make sure we conserve our leadin the standings,” the Spaniard said.Emery said PSG were onlyfocusing on game against Toulouse and not on Wednesday’s ChampionsLeague encounter with Real Madrid. “They are two very different matches,but each match is important. I am only thinking about Saturday’s game,”he said. Fixtures (all times 1900 unless stated)Today:Toulouse v Paris Saint-Germain (1600), Angers v Monaco, Bordeaux vAmiens, Dijon v Nice, Guingamp v Caen, Metz v MontpellierTomorrow: Strasbourg v Troyes (1400), Nantes v Lille (1600), Lyon v Rennes (2100)