Untouchable PSG leave Ligue 1 rivals fighting for scraps

Laurent Blanc's PSG side are firmly on course for a fourth straight title, and while they clearly admit that winning the Champions League is their main priority, even a 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid in midweek was met by positive feedback after a proud performance.

It was the capital side's first defeat of the season in all competitions, but the manner in which they dominated the 10-time European champions only underlined their status as one of the top teams in Europe.

PSG return to the comforts of the Parc des Princes on Saturday when Blanc will lead his men out against second-from-bottom Toulouse expecting to take maximum points from what appears a home-win banker.

Seven-time champions Lyon are second and ahead on goal difference above Angers as well as their arch-rivals Saint-Etienne, who visit the Stade Gerland in the weekend's feature match on Sunday.

However the fashion in which Hubert Fournier's side were all but eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday, following a 2-0 defeat at home to Zenit St Petersburg, again shows the gulf in class between PSG and one of their closest rivals.

"We would have been more comfortable, heading into the Saint-Etienne match, if we would have won on Wednesday but it's up to us to recover and rely on the things that have working for us this season," said Fournier.

Lyon's key striker Alexandre Lacazette added the team would bounce back for one of the fiercest rivals in French football. 

"We have to just prepare the best we can for Sunday because a derby against Saint-Etienne is a match we have to win."

Angers, who kick off the weekend slate on Friday at home to mid-table Rennes and are tied with Lyon, are more concerned about avoiding relegation after their recent promotion. 

Another telling statistic is that apart from PSG and Monaco, the other four French clubs that have qualified for the Champions League -- Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Montpellier -- have won just one match between them in 22 matches at the top continental level since 2012.

Monaco have climbed the table after a stuttering start to their campaign, and come into their Sunday tie at Bordeaux in sixth place, while Marseille are well out of the running with four wins from 12 fixtures and a distant 17 points adrift, ahead of their clash at home to Nice on Sunday.

Lille continue to rebuild under two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner Herve Renard, but the road looks long for the 2011 champions after just two wins this season left them three points above the relegation zone.

The Dogues (Great Danes) host lower-table Bastia on Saturday on a night when fifth-placed Caen await Guingamp, improving Nantes travel to Montpellier, fresh from their midweek win over Nice, Lorient meet Troyes and Reims are at home to GFC Ajaccio.

Fixtures (all times GMT):

Friday

Angers v Rennes (1930)

Saturday

Paris Saint-Germain v Toulouse (1600), Montpellier v Nantes, Lille v Bastia, Lorient v Troyes, Caen v Guingamp, Reims v GFC Ajaccio (all 1900)

Sunday

Marseille v Nice (1600), Bordeaux v Monaco (2000), Lyon v Saint-Etienne (2000)