Champions League duo Monaco, PSG primed for duel

Monaco secured an impressive 3-1 aggregate victory over Villarreal of Spain in midweek, no insignificant result as the principality club attempts to keep hold of its top players.

Leonardo Jardim's side were placed with CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham Hotspur in Group E of Europe's premier club competition, while PSG, quarter-finalists each of the past four seasons, will face Arsenal, Basel and Ludogorets Razgrad in Group A.

Having fallen short in the play-off round a year ago, clinching their return to the group phase should bolster Monaco's ability to retain reported Manchester United target Fabinho as well as Portugal international Bernardo Silva. 

"The guarantee of keeping all our players? Unfortunately that doesn't exist in football, but we were well reinforced," said Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev, in quotes published by French sports daily L'Equipe.

"We hope to keep the squad like it is, the sporting ambition is really the priority."

PSG trail leaders Lyon on goal difference after beginning their pursuit of a fifth successive league crown with wins over Bastia and promoted Metz.

Club president Nasser al-Khelaifi said PSG had concluded their business in the transfer market following the arrival of Jese Rodriguez from Real Madrid a fortnight ago, but the future of Blaise Matuidi remains uncertain with the France midfielder strongly linked with a move Juventus.

PSG coach Unai Emery has made no secret of his desire for Matuidi to stay, while Khelaifi declared on Thursday that the midfielder would not be leaving the Parc des Princes.

"Matuidi has a contract with us, he wants to stay and he will stay," Khelaifi told Infosport+, although Benjamin Stambouli is on his way out after closing in on a move to Schalke.

- Lethal Lacazette -

Alexandre Lacazette's superb start to the season has earned him a recall to the France squad following his Euro 2016 omission, and the 25-year-old will attempt to add to his five goals at Dijon on Saturday.

While Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has insisted that Lacazette will stay, his presence central to OL's hopes of navigating a Champions League group including Juventus, Sevilla and Dinamo Zagreb, Lille winger Sofiane Boufal is likely to join the Ligue 1 exodus.

The Morocco international is the subject of bids from Southampton, coached by former Nice boss Claude Puel, and Watford, although the 22-year-old hasn't featured since hurting his knee in April.

Saturday's visit to Nice, winners of their two opening matches, will come too soon for the coveted Lille man who has been stepping up his recovery in Doha.

Marseille host Lorient in the Friday night game as the beleaguered French giants chase their first win of the campaign.

OM coach Franck Passi drew ridicule for claiming "all is well" at the club following last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Guingamp but he remains full of optimism.

"I'm not worried. I have very good players but not all of them all physically ready yet. You (journalists) only talk about the result, the supporters too. That's how it is and I'm not going to change anything," he said.

Saint-Etienne host Toulouse on Sunday, while Bordeaux will aim to bounce back from a heavy 4-1 defeat in the Garonne derby last time out when they take on Nantes.