PARIS — On the back of its victory against leader Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain can move to the top of the French league this weekend.
Unbeaten PSG trails its bitter rival by one point as it seeks its first win in 11 years at Metz, while Marseille hosts Bordeaux on Sunday after two losses in their last three league games.
Used to off-field turmoil, Marseille also needs to deal with a new crisis after president Vincent Labrune was detained this week as part of an investigation into Andre-Pierre Gignac’s transfer to the club in 2010.
Here are some other things to know about this weekend’s games:
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WEAKENED SIDE: Marseille is sweating on the fitness of defender Jeremy Morel and winger Romain Alessandrini, while top-scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac is struggling for goals.
Morel has resumed light training as he tries to shake off a foot injury, while Alessandrini twisted his ankle in a friendly against Spanish side Espanyol last Friday. Winger Andre Ayew has been ruled out after hurting his groin on international duty with Ghana this week, and Marseille’s team is further depleted because defender Nicolas N’Koulou and midfielder Alaixys Romao are both suspended.
Marseille also needs Gignac to find his form again. After netting 10 times in his first 10 league games, Gignac has not scored in his past five for club and country.
LAURENT’S LAMENT: PSG coach Laurent Blanc is worried the international break left some of his players leg-weary. Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani is one of the high-profile internationals at PSG, and he had a long flight back to Paris after playing in Chile on Tuesday.
Blanc did not get all of his players back until Thursday, effectively giving him one full training session before facing Metz.
"It’s not the best way to prepare, but we have to put up with it," he said.
PSG has another short turnaround before taking on Ajax at home in the Champions League on Tuesday.
"We have six matches to play before the holiday break," Blanc said. "We intend to take as many points as possible."
IBRAHIMOVIC BACK AT TRAINING: After being rested during Sweden’s 1-0 loss to France on Tuesday in a friendly, PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has resumed training and is expected to play against Metz.
Ibrahimovic has already missed seven weeks of action this season with a heel injury. He returned as a substitute against Marseille then scored for Sweden last week in a 1-1 draw with Montenegro in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
"He feels very good. He came back with some muscular aches after his match with Sweden but has enjoyed a good recovery since," Blanc said.
Ibrahimovic’s return could help to compensate for some key absences, with midfielder Blaise Matuidi doubtful with a hand injury and Marco Verrati sidelined with a groin lesion.
BRANDAO’S SUSPENSION UPHELD: The French football federation has upheld Bastia striker Brandao’s six-month ban for head-butting PSG midfielder Thiago Motta after a league match.
Provisionally suspended since Aug. 22, Brandao won’t be able to play until February.
After Bastia’s 2-0 loss to PSG, Brandao waited for Thiago Motta in the tunnel for 20 minutes and butted him in the face before running away. Motta’s nose was broken, and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi called for Brandao to be banned for life.
BLANC SADDENED BY CORRUPTION: PSG coach Blanc used to play for Nimes and Marseille, two clubs at the centre of the financial and match-fixing cases rocking French football.
This week, French police detained Marseille president Vincent Labrune as well as the club director general and two former club presidents — Jean-Claude Dassier and Pape Diouf — as part of an investigation into past transfers of players. In the second division, Nimes is suspected of fixing or attempting to fix matches as it avoided relegation last season.
"I’m sad for football, but you can’t be a fool. As soon as money is involved, you’ll find people without scruples entering the system," Blanc said on Thursday. "And it’s appalling to see that even these things happen at the highest level."
