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Lorient vs Paris Saint-GermainIt would have scarcely seemed credible before December, but PSG could potentially leapfrog the Merlus with a win in Brittnary.The Parisiens are celebrating not only their first home win of the Ligue season, but also a barnstorming, Pauleta-inspired thrashing of Valenciennes midweek in the Coupe de la Ligue.There's more than a hint of revenge about this fixture. The then-visitors left the Parc with a 3-1 win on Matchday 3, and PSG are eager to get their own back.Still, despite their own fine form, Lorient are a force to be reckoned with, having lost at home just twice all season.AJ Auxerre vs Racing StrasbourgAuxerre, meanwhile, would do well to put their own inconsistency behind them with a win over Strasbourg.The hosts have proved themselves capable of some fine results, particularly at home, but are all too often guilty of falling into a trap of complacency.That isn't an option against Racing, despite the fact that the Strasbourg men are in freefall away from home. Losing their last three, they'l find themselves overtaken by Auxerre if they lose here.Le Mans Union Club vs Girondins de BordeauxMuch of the news surrounding MUC has come off the pitch, with star forward De Melo having penned pre-contracts with both Parma and Palermo, at least according to the Italian press.What becomes of such revelations remains to be seen, but regardless, he and his teammates much be at their best against Bordeaux.The Girondins could jump into an automatic Champions League place, at least temporarily, with a home win, and they'll have high hopes of doing so.Still, Le Mans will feel that, at home, they can do anything. A 1-0 victory over Lyon in the Coupe de la Ligue on Wednesday is testament to that.Olympique Marseille vs Valenciennes AFCMarseille, meanwhile, saw their own recovery period come to an end with a defeat at Auxerre in that competition, but will still be confident of league success.For while Valenciennes are still flying high in the Eurozone, a full seven points above OM, Marseille are on a great home run.Three wins in the last three tells its own story, and with VAFC being home specialists themselves, coach Eric Gerets will expect to send the Velodrome crowd home happy.Metz FC vs AS MonacoAfter the heartbreaking result last week, Les Grenats remain bottom of the table with just eight points. Hardly the stuff to inspire confidence ahead of Monaco's visit.But while the Monegasques won this fixture 2-0 back in August, there is at least a scant piece of consolation for the hosts here. They won the match last time the two sides met here, winning 2-1 back in 2006.Monaco, meanwhile, haven't won away from home in three attempts. Still, if they're going to do so, now's the ideal time...AS Saint Etienne vs Stade RennaisAnother side with massive consistency issues, Saint-Etienne will hope to teach Rennes the value of pedigree.However, the verts lost the last fixture between the sides at the Geoffroy-Guichard last season, and they have yet to really hit stride this season.Plus, things will be made immeasurably difficult by the absence of Pascal Feindouno, who's off to fight the good fight with Guinea at the Cup of African Nations.Rennes, meanwhile, are still adjusting to their managerial change, and managed an away draw at Toulouse in their last road fiture. Still, they lost three on the trot before that, cancelling out the advantage of having beaten ASSE 1-0 at the Route de Lorient in Round 3.Sochaux vs Lille OSCLille are flirting with danger, and could find themselves level on points with Sochaux if they lose here. That's almost unthinkable for a club of their size, yet it remains the reality of the situation.The Dogues have lost their last two away games, but at least they'll find some company from the Lionceaux, who have suffered two consecutive defeats on their own patch.Sochaux, of course, remain 19th for now, but managed a 1-1 draw in the return fixture back in August, so may yet be confident of pulling off a shock.Toulouse FC vs Stade Malherbe CaenThe 'Tef' could take a massive step back towards top half respectability with a win here, but they'll need to be careful.TFC have the worst disciplinary record in the Ligue - 43 bookings and four red cards - and could find that to be their undoing.So, too, cold Caen's status as something of a bogey team for the southerners. Despite the arduous journey, Caen regard this as a happy hunting ground, losing their last two away games here and drawing two prior to that.Granted, they've only shared the top flight on a handful of occasions - once this century, in fact - but it remains a formidable record for the high-flyers.OGC Nice vs Nancy-LorraineTwo overachievers kick off Sunday's action as Nancy journey to the Cote d'Azur to meet Nice.Nancy tend not to lose away from home, but don't win much, either: two of each result and six draws comprise their road record.Indeed, it's their home form that's seen them climb to second place. Nonetheless, they'll hope to bring Nice back down to earth.Easier said than done: the coastal men have their home form to thank for their own status on the fringe of the EUrozone, having yet to lose at all in Nice.Furthermore, the low-scoring affairs between the sides down south haven't resulted in an away win for Nancy since the early 1980s.Racing Club Lens vs Olympique LyonnaisFinally, league leaders Lyon visit Lens for a game that they really should win.A result is vital not only to regain that psycholigical advatange at the top of the table, but also to dispel the spectres of that poor performance in Le Mans midweek.Lens, meanwhile, got back to winning ways against Nancy, but are still floundering in the league. Two points off the safety zone, they'll keep in mind the fact that they've lost just once at home all season.Fred may make a cameo for Lyon as his will-he-won't-he transfer saga drags on. Regardless, it'll be a tough game for both sides, regardless of what the table says.
