Ligue 1 round 13

Marseille v PSG
Grenoble v Lyon
Rennes v Le Mans
Lens v Nancy
Bordeaux v Valenciennes
Auxerre v Monaco
St Etienne v Lorient
Nice v Toulouse
Montpellier v Lille

Not quite a full programme this week in La Rébublique because on Friday night, the postponed Marseille v PSG game takes place. This is the one that was called off thanks to an outbreak of H1N1 in the Paris camp and the two sides scheduled opponents, Sochaux and Boulogne, sit out the weekend. All three of the infected players are back in for the rearranged clash, though they are without Claude Makelele and Guillaume Hoarau due to suspension and injury respectively. Marseille have their problems, but they're mainly internal thanks to Hatem Ben Arfa's falling-out with Didier Deschamps. Whenever a player falls out with his manager, he loses. So it is in this case too, and Ben Arfa will be out on his ear as soon as is possible. January.

Bordeaux continue their defence of the title at home to Valenciennes, but the big game sees third play fourth at the Abbe-Deschamps in Auxerre where Monaco are the visitors. This should be a belter. Ireneusz Jelen and Nene are two of the league's leading scorers and both sides play attractive football. Should be great. Lyon are in second and will win this weekend. Why? Because they're up against Grenoble who are still rubbish despite getting off the mark last time out. There's a reasonable looking game on the south coast between resurgent Nice and Toulouse.

Elesewhere, picking look slim. Struggling Le Mans go to Rennes, struggling Lens are at home to Nancy, Montpellier look to get back on track against Lille and St Etienne are at home to Lorient. None of them look particularly appetising to the neutral observer.