The trio of teams expected to be challenging for the title this season - Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux - lead the way and all three showed their pedigree by claiming victories in the Champions League in midweek.

Lyon have the best chance of making it into the last 16, their 2-0 win at home to Steaua Bucharest putting them on the brink of qualification.

They are also on fire in Ligue 1 and travel to Monte Carlo for Saturday's match against Monaco on the back of two straight 2-0 wins in the league, against Sochaux and Le Mans.

"Little by little, we are feeling stronger as a team and in this period where we are playing every three days, it is good to have a solid base to be able to control these matches," said Les Gones coach Claude Puel.

"It is a sign of a great team when you are capable of winning matches and taking points when you lack freshness.

"We must continue like this."

Monaco have climbed to 13th thanks to back-to-back wins, against Nancy and Le Havre.

Marseille are four points behind Lyon in second, and are looking for their third win in seven days after a 3-1 triumph over St Etienne in Ligue 1 last weekend and a superb 3-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

OM take on Grenoble on Saturday, with the promoted side eighth after drawing their last two games in the league.

Hatem Ben Arfa may be rested by OM coach Eric Gerets, who admitted his in-form playmaker was feeling the effects of playing consecutive games this week.

Bordeaux, two points behind OM, slipped to the first defeat since August when they lost as 1-0 to Nancy last weekend and will look to react when they host Auxerre.

Les Girondins coach Laurent Blanc, whose side beat Cluj 2-1 on Tuesday, may rest Yoann Gourcuff after the France midfielder's stunning exploits over the past month.

At the other end of the table, rock-bottom Sochaux are still without a win this season ahead of their home game against Le Mans.

They are two points adrift of second-bottom Le Havre, who visit Caen this weekend.

Elsewhere on Saturday, fourth-placed Toulouse travel to Nantes and Nice go to Lorient looking to maintain their five-match unbeaten streak.

On Sunday, third-bottom Valenciennes will look to secure their first win since August 23 when they host Nancy.

Elsewhere, Paris St Germain welcome Lille and St Etienne entertain Rennes, with Les Verts coach Laurent Roussey's job hanging by a thread after his team's four consecutive league defeats.