Ligue 1 preview: Top spot up for grabs

Marseille are aiming for a fifth straight win when they host leaders Lille for top spot on the Ligue 1 table on Sunday.

Depending on the result of Stade Rennes’ away trip to Montpellier on Saturday, Didier Deschamps’ men can climb into first place with all three points against a faltering Lille.

Rudi Garcia’s squad are winless in their past two league outings and without a win in regulation time in their past five overall, having scraped past Lorient on penalties in their Coupe de France tie on Wednesday.

Marseille have been workmanlike rather than eye-catching in their past four wins, having conceded in three of them and only kept a clean sheet in that time against bottom side Arles.

In other clashes on Sunday, Lyon should take all three points against the Ligue 1 cellar-dwellers at Stade de Gerland despite Arles’ recent form which has seen them claim three straight draws.

Brest and Bordeaux will face off in a mid-table battle, with the home side at Stade Francis Le Ble just one point ahead of their Sunday opponents.

On Saturday, Caen will host an out-of-form Saint-Etienne, with the promoted club in prime position to post their fourth consecutive unbeaten result.

Saint-Etienne will travel to Stade Michel d’Ornano in search of their first league win in four matches, after home losses to Lyon and Nice and an away defeat to Marseille.

Eighth-placed Lorient host relegation threatened Nancy, while Nice – fresh from their 2-0 triumph over Saint-Etienne on Saturday – host second-bottom Lens.

Toulouse can break a three-game losing streak when they tackle mid-table rivals Sochaux.

Fourth placed Paris Saint-Germain will travel to lowly Auxerre, and Valenciennes welcome Monaco in other Saturday clashes.