French Ligue 1 - Monaco v Nice
Sep 23Matchday 13 in Ligue 1 kicked off on Friday night as Lens beat Toulouse 3-0 thanks to Lois Openda's hat-trick to move to within two points of Paris Saint-Germain (albeit having played a game more than the champions).
Saturday sees PSG return to the Parc des Princes just four days after walloping seven past Maccabi Haifa, with Troyes the unlucky visitors to the capital, before Marseille aim to end a three-game domestic losing streak at struggling Strasbourg.
Auxerre begin life under former Lorient manager Christophe Pelissier against Ajaccio on Sunday, while Montpellier are searching for their first win since dispensing with the services of Oliver Dall'Oglio and Lorient aim to start winning again against Nice to hold on to their top-three spot.
The weekend ends with great entertainers Lille travelling to Groupama Stadium to take on Lyon.
Let's get into the key storylines ahead of another compelling weekend of fixtures.
Will PSG get 18 in a row?
It is unsurprising that Paris Saint-Germain lead the way in Ligue 1, but the 10-time winners have made an especially strong start to the current campaign under Christophe Galtier, both domestically and in Europe.
The 7-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa as the formidable front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe ran rings around opponents inexperienced at Champions League level.
PSG have recorded 13 wins, four draws and no defeats so far this season, and have an opportunity to extend that unbeaten run when they host Troyes, who currently sit 11th.
One positive Bruno Irles' men can look to ahead of this clash is that they drew 2-2 at the Parc des Princes in May as they came from 2-0 down to claim a crucial point in the fight for survival. Similar fortitude will be needed on Saturday.
Can Marseille stem the losing tide?
Things had started so well for Igor Tudor at Marseille as the team collected 23 points in his first nine league games in charge to stay on PSG's coat-tails.
However, three successive losses - home defeats against Ajaccio and Lens either side of a 1-0 reverse in Le Classique - mean L'OM now sit fifth, four points off third-placed Lorient, and also sit bottom of their Champions League group after a 2-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek (albeit sitting only two points of leaders Tottenham).
Tudor's charges appear to have a good chance of getting back on track domestically as they travel to Strasbourg, who are currently outside the bottom four only on goal difference and have just one win to their name, the lowest figure in the division.
The visitors are set to welcome back Samuel Gigot following the defender's two-match suspension, while the hosts' backline is likely to contain Lucas Perrin, who swapped the Stade Velodrome for the Stade de la Meinau this summer following a loan spell in Alsace last term.
Auxerre eyeing 'new manager bounce'
Following the sacking of Jean-Marc Furlan on 11 October after his middle-finger gesture to Clermont fans, 18th-placed Auxerre took a fortnight to appoint his replacement, ultimately settling for Christophe Pelissier.
The 57-year-old help Amiens gain promotion to Ligue 1 and then moved to Lorient in 2019, also guiding them back to the top flight before being sacked in the summer after two 16th-placed finishes.
The Burgundy side are in desperate need of a turnaround having picked up just two points from their last seven games, last tasting victory in late August, but they have a good chance of putting that right against second-from-bottom Ajaccio at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps, live on BT Sport 3 from midday.
Lille vs Lyon sees David face Lacazette
The Stade Pierre-Mauroy will play host to what is set to be a captivating clash on Sunday as Lille host Lyon.
Paulo Fonseca's men are one of the league's great entertainers this season - as last weekend's thrilling 4-3 win over Monaco underlined - while Laurent Blanc has presided over a loss and a win against Rennes and Montpellier respectively since succeeding Peter Bosz, with victory at the Stade de la Mosson last weekend seeing Les Gones pick up their first three-point haul since 3 September.
Blanc's arrival seems to have reignited Alexandre Lacazette, who had gone four games without scoring before netting three times in his last two outings to take his tally to seven for the campaign.
Lacazette and Lyon face a Lille frontline spearheaded by Jonathan David, the Canadian striker heading to the World Cup next month.
He has nine goals to his name this season - only Kylian Mbappe (10) has more in the league - and his 12 goal involvements are only better by Lionel Messi (15) and Neymar (16). Elite company.
