Ligue 1 week 33

Friday:
Lyon v PSG
Saturday:
Vannes v Bordeaux (League Cup final)
Sunday:
Auxerre v Caen
Toulouse v Lorient
Nice v St Etienne
Le Mans v Monaco
Nancy v Nantes
Le Havre v Grenoble
Sochaux v Valenciennes
Lille v Marseille
Wednesday:
Rennes v Bordeaux

While the main focus of the week ought to be the League Cup final between Vannes and Bordeaux, PSG going to Lyon is the one that immediately grabs the attention. Which is a shame, because Vannes's story is quite remarkable. Having turned pro at the start of this season - just eight months ago folks - at the start of their first ever Ligue 2 campaign, they now find themselves 24 hours away from walking out at the Stade de France with 80,000 expected. Bordeaux, naturally, go in as massive favourites and will have to guard against a major shock. It'd take a romanticist or a fool to back the small Brittany club, but hopefully they can use the occasion to launch themselves to the next level, if not claim the ultimate prize. Of course, if Bordeaux remain where they are in the league, it will bring Europa League football to that corner of the country - something that neighbours Rennes and Lorient look incapable of.

Paul Le Guen goes back to the Gerland where he won a hat-trick of league titles, but this time as manager of PSG and with a real chance of ending the grip his former club has on the French league. Lyon's home form has been terrible, winning just twice at the Gerland since the turn of the year, while PSG have been very good away. It's all set up for a cracker.

With the Cup final in the way, Bordeaux have to back up on Wednesday against Rennes. Should Marseille fail to get a win in a tricky fixture away to Lille, then Les Girondins will need a win to either join OM or go above them at the top. Marseille will be without skipper Lorik Cana, suspended for his part in the unseemly stoppage time tussle over a fricking throw in. Idiot. Lille have just dropped off the pace a bit, but with the likes of Eden Hazard and Michel Bastos, they represent a threat to Marseille's title ambitions. Toulouse are still in there awaiting any scraps that may fall from the table and they take on Lorient at home this week. That final point about it being at home for Les Violets is an important one. They've been all but unbeatable at the Parc Municipal while rather shaky on their travels. Lorient once looked like European contenders. They've had that now as they settle into mid-table no mans land.

At the other end, Sochaux and Valenciennes are involved in the big game. VA have been dragged back into it down there and are just four points clear of the drop. Sochaux are only out of the bottom three on goal difference, which serves to highlight just how important this is for both sides. Should Sochaux and St Etienne get anything out of their games - Les Verts are at Nice in a tough game for them - then only wins will do for Le Havre. They can't go down this week, but failure to beat Grenoble will leave them with what looks to be an impossible task in the final five weeks of competition. Caen are deep in trouble and look long odds to emerge from their game against Auxerre with anything, while Nancy and Nantes face off in another crunch battle at the bottom. Monaco and Le Mans look too far away to be in any real danger and the only thing they're contesting this week is which side is more mediocre than the other. It's a tough call.