Trio at the top of Ligue 1 will at least be cut to two as Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne square off

The pair of clubs, joined by Marseille with the most points in France, will each be eager to hold on to whatever advantage they can over Paris Saint-Germain during midweek play.

Bordeaux supporters celebrate after a goal during their club's match against Evian on Friday. Mehdi Fedouach / AFP / September 19, 2014

Tensions are high as Paris Saint-Germain head to Normandy on Wednesday desperate for a win to keep in touch with the French league leaders after a fourth draw in six Ligue 1 games at the weekend.

The two-time defending champions are three points behind Marseille, and need maximum points in Caen to stay close to Marcelo Bielsa’s table toppers who could pull further ahead at Champagne outfit Reims on Tuesday.

Laurent Blanc’s side were held to their third 1-1 draw at home against Lyon at the weekend as Marseille turned on the style in a 3-0 home win over Rennes.

Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne, equal on 13 points with Marseille but behind on goal difference respectively, go head-to-head on Thursday in the southeast.

It should prove the highest-wattage of France’s midweek affairs, as either side will be desperate to cling to any advantage of PSG, winners of the previous two Ligue 1 titles.

Bordeaux have started impressively, with wins that include a 4-1 Monaco thrashing and a 1-0 away win over Montpellier.

But their last two matches have been shakier, with a 2-1 loss to Guingamp and a narrow 2-1 win over lowly Evian in the last round dampening their early momentum.

Saint-Etienne, for their part, are navigating both Ligue 1 and the Europa League, where they began with a scoreless draw against Azerbaijan club Qarabag last week.

The club, despite their position, own a mere plus-1 goal difference after a 5-0 beating at the hands of Paris on August 31. Their other results, which include a scoreless draw with Rennes and 1-0 wins over Caen and Lens, don’t speak to an emerging title threat.

The situation for the title holders, meanwhile, may not be critical for the Parisians who are in fifth position and are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions.

But a win at midtable Caen ahead of another Ligue 1 trip to Toulouse on Saturday, would be a timely boost before a visit from Spanish giants Barcelona to the Parc des Princes for Champions League action next week.

Blanc had put the drop in form down to the staggered return of players from holidays after World Cup duty, but also admitted there was a certain “tension” within the team.

Even Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, scorer of half of the Parisians goals this season, has become human since his hattrick in the 5-0 win over Saint-Etienne.

“When a club fails to get good results, there is a sense of unease,” said Blanc. “The players are very disappointed, the staff are very disappointed. We are not at our best form. It leads to tensions in the team.

“We know the rules of the game. When you’re in a club like PSG, you need results,” said Blanc, who lamented the lack of maturity of a team that led three times only to be caught.

“We’re realistic we’re not on our top game. Caen will be quite difficult, we’re taking nothing for granted and need a win.”

Ibrahimovic’s drop in form mirrors that of his entire team, with Edinson Cavani and Zoumana Camara getting the team out of a potentially tricky situations with their two goals in the past two games.

The absence of Blanc’s former PSG deputy coach Claude Makelele, who is now coaching Bastia, could be a reason for lack of morale in the dressing room, along with captain Thiago Silva’s absence through injury.

In midfield Yohan Cabaye could benefit from the suspension of Italian international midfielder Marco Verratti, but Blanc could opt for Javier Pastore against Caen, who have seven points from their six games.

Silva is still recovering from his hamstring injury with defence likely to be assured by the Marquinhos and David Luiz partnership.

Lille, who are alone in fourth on 12 points, travel to Nice with Montpellier, joint fifth, hosting last season’s runners-up Monaco, who are looking for a second consecutive win to move further away from the drop zone.

Nantes travel to Bastia, and Lorient to Lyon, while at the bottom of the table Evian are looking for their first win of the season at home against Lens, who are themselves just a point clear of the drop zone, with Guingamp hosting Metz.

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