PSG hope to capitalise on Marseille mauling

Paris Saint Germain will host surprise package Toulouse on Wednesday looking to build on the good form which has seen them climb back into French first division contention.

The capital side just escaped relegation last season and are finally finding their scoring touch after another difficult start, a renaissance demonstrated by the thrilling 4-2 win over bitter southern rivals Marseille at the weekend.

Two goals from the towering Guillaume Hoarau and a strike from talismanic Jerome Rothen helped Paul le Guen's team come from behind for a result that moved PSG into sixth, just four points behind league leaders Lyon.

It's all a far cry from last season for PSG, who only avoided relegation from the top flight on the last day of play.

Then it was a problem with firepower, but Le Guen is pleased that things are now slowly changing.

“Our season is taking shape little by little, and our attack is constantly improving,” the former Rangers boss said after the match.

“We scored three goals against Lorient and four tonight. We're on the right track but we can't stop now.”

If other results go PSG's way midweek, a win against fifth-placed Toulouse could see them go second – and give their fans something to chant about.

But it is a very big 'if'.

Toulouse have rarely been out of the top five all season and went seven games without defeat before losing to Bordeaux this month, while they remain unbeaten at home after Saturday's draw with Monaco.

Despite fielding the same side that thrashed Steaua Bucharest in Champions League action, Lyon could only muster a 0-0 draw at Auxerre at the weekend.

The league leaders will now travel to Sochaux on Wednesday nursing some bruises, with coach Claude Puel bemoaning his side's domestic dip in form, typified by the Auxerre draw.

“We just couldn't find the gaps. We managed to turn things around in the second half, but the end of the match was really tough for us,” he said.

“We're not going to make any excuses but it's an away match and, given what happened, we can be happy with a point.”

Another side to have won in Europe but stumble at home is Bordeaux, who drew 2-2 with Nice on Saturday, four days after they beat CFR Cluj in the Champions League.

Bordeaux, sitting fourth in the league, lost ground on their rivals thanks to a controversial Nice penalty awarded six minutes into injury time, and they must bounce back against Le Havre on Tuesday.

“What's the point of getting upset when the game is finished,” said coach Laurent Blanc of the Nice match.

“It's more important to direct our energy and attention to the game we have coming up in Le Havre. Things don't always go your way in football, that's how it is.”

Fixtures

Tuesday

Bordeaux v Le Havre

Wednesday

Caen v Nice, Grenoble v Lille, Le Mans v Auxerre, Monaco v Nancy, Nantes v Marseille, Paris Saint Germain v Toulouse, Sochaux v Lyon, Valenciennes v Rennes, Saint Etienne v Lorient