Lyon forget Barcelona challenge to focus on league

French champions Lyon will look to make a statement of intent when they travel to 10th-placed Nancy on Saturday by putting next week’s Champions League clash with mighty Barcelona to the back of their minds.

For the first time in five weeks the league leaders will be kicking off at 1800GMT on Saturday, whereas in recent weeks they’ve found themselves waiting anxiously to see if any of their title rivals had closed the gap on them before taking to the field.

Victory for Claude Puel’s men will take them eight points clear of third-placed Marseille and nine points above fifth-placed Bordeaux, who both play on Sunday.

The trip to Nancy is Lyon’s last league assignment before they meet in-form Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, but captain Juninho has warned his team-mates not to get ahead of themselves.

“We are focused on Nancy for a very important challenge,” the Brazilian free-kick maestro said.

“It’s always nice to stay in front. We have to achieve a result at Nancy against a side who need the points and we are going there to take all the points for ourselves.”

Lyon’s 3-1 win at home to Le Havre last weekend was overshadowed by ‘monkey’ chants directed at black defender John Mensah, who was later sent off.

A 21-year-old man has since been charged with racial abuse.

The Ghanaian is therefore suspended for the trip to Stade Marcel Picot, but Argentine attacking midfielder Cesar Delgado is expected to return from the stomach injury that has kept him out of action for the last three weeks.

Paris Saint-Germain moved into second place with a 2-1 win at third-bottom Saint Etienne last weekend and they travel to Grenoble on Saturday.

Four straight wins have fired the Parisians into title contention and they secured a 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg in the first leg of their UEFA Cup round of 32 tie on Wednesday.

PSG coach Paul Le Guen is likely to shuffle his side after resting a number of players against Wolfsburg, with Ludovic Giuly and Peguy Luyindula competing for the role of strike partner to Guillaume Hoarau, who scored both goals against the Germans.

“Just because I changed things a bit, it doesn’t mean we’re willing to sacrifice the competition”, Le Guen said.

“It’s because it’s what I think we need to go as far as possible in all the competitions we’re in.”

Bordeaux, last season’s runners-up, were within a point of Lyon two weeks ago but have now gone three games without a win and slipped six points off the pace after drawing 1-1 against Grenoble last weekend.

They visit Saint Etienne after the sides enjoyed contrasting fortunes in the UEFA Cup, Bordeaux drawing 0-0 at home to Galatasaray and Les Verts superbly winning 3-1 at Greek champions Olympiacos.

Toulouse moved into fourth place with a 2-1 victory at Sochaux last Saturday, and a win at home to fourth-bottom Valenciennes this weekend would take them into second if PSG fail to win at Grenoble.

Playing Saturday (1800GMT unless stated):

Nancy v Lyon, Grenoble v PSG, Le Havre v Auxerre, Lorient v Sochaux, Nantes v Caen, Toulouse v Valenciennes, Nice v Rennes (2000GMT)

Playing Sunday (1600GMT unless stated):

Marseille v Le Mans, St Etienne v Bordeaux, Lille v Monaco (2000GMT)