Bastia test for PSG as Lyon open new ground

Paris Saint-Germain will hope the winter break has not removed any of their sharpness as the runaway Ligue 1 leaders welcome Bastia to the Parc des Princes on Friday.

PSG sat an enormous 19 points clear of the chasing pack at the season's mid-way stage as they set a new record points tally for the first half of the campaign in France.

Laurent Blanc's side have not lost domestically since March last year and few will give Bastia a chance of ending that statistic in the capital, where Paris have been especially strong.

The Corsicans sit just three points clear of the relegation zone but they have lost just one of their last six games, while PSG laboured to a 1-0 victory against fourth-tier minnows Wasquehal in the French Cup last weekend.

"It was one of our most difficult matches this season. Different qualities are required to win games like thse," said Paris goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, who is a fitness doubt for this weekend, although Kevin Trapp is likely to start in goal with the Italian being tipped to leave the club this month.
The return to fitness of Javier Pastore means Blanc has a near fully-fit squad to choose from now and the likes of Angel di Maria, Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva are set to return here after being rested last weekend.

Bastia welcome back skipper Yannick Cahuzac after he missed last week's French Cup win at Sedan due to suspension, while Guinea forward Francois Kamano has returned to training after three months out with a fractured metatarsal.

Saturday will be an historic day for Lyon as they open their new 59,000-seat stadium against bottom club Troyes.

The ground in Lyon's eastern suburbs will be one of the venues for Euro 2016 and while most clubs in France rent stadiums from local authorities, Lyon have funded it themselves.

It cost 450 million euros (£331 million; $484 million) but Lyon are hoping it can generate 70-100 million euros per year and therefore help them compete with the very best clubs in Europe once again.

"That is why we began this adventure in the first place. When we started thinking about it at the beginning of the last decade, we were the champions of France and selling out every match," said Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.

- Poor form -
The current state of the Lyon side is a concern to fans  with last season's runners-up languishing in ninth place at the halfway stage.

Their poor form cost coach Hubert Fournier his job and Bruno Genesio has replaced him after being promoted from his backroom role.

Genesio's first game was the 7-0 Cup win against minnows Limoges and nothing less than a victory will do against a Troyes side who prop up the division having failed to win a league game all season.

One man who will not feature for Lyon is Serbian defender Milan Bisevac, who has left the club to join Serie A side Lazio.
Second over the winter break, Monaco are at home to Gazelec Ajaccio and will be without the suspended Lacina Traore after the giant striker scored four goals and was then sent off in a 10-2 Cup win against Saint-Jean-Beaulieu.

Third-placed Angers host Caen having been weakened by the sales of Razza Camara and goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle to Derby County and Club Brugge respectively.

Yoann Gourcuff could make his first appearance since returning to first club Rennes in Saturday's Brittany derby against Lorient, while Montpellier's first league game under the new management team of Pascal Baills and Bruno Martini will be against Bordeaux.

Fixtures (kick-offs 1900 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Paris Saint-Germain v Bastia (1930 GMT)

Saturday

Lyon v Troyes (1600 GMT), Rennes v Lorient, Monaco v Gazelec Ajaccio, Montpellier v Bordeaux, Angers v Caen, Reims v Toulouse

Sunday

Nantes v Saint-Etienne (1300 GMT), Lille v Nice (1600 GMT), Marseille v Guingamp (2000 GMT)
Source: AFP