Rennes betting on upset against Ligue 1 leader PSG

Unbeaten Paris Saint-Germain will go 10 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, at least for 24 hours, with a win against Rennes in Brittany on Friday.

The capital club's imperial domestic form in recent times has raised the question of whether anyone can beat them in Ligue 1 this season ahead of a match brought forward to help Paris prepare for their trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League next week.

Laurent Blanc's side were streets ahead of Saint-Etienne -- seen as contenders for a top-three finish -- in a 4-1 stroll at the Parc des Princes last Sunday.

They are currently seven points clear of second-placed Angers and have gone 22 matches without losing in all competitions since being beaten by Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals last April.

In Ligue 1, their unbeaten run covers 20 games going back to March, and few give Rennes, or anyone, a chance of ending that record right now.

"Against PSG, I get the impression that players from other teams go onto the pitch with a feeling of resignation," former Lyon, Paris and France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet told leading sports daily L'Equipe this week.

"For example, on Sunday for PSG v Saint-Etienne, we try to talk it up as a big match, but well...you could see that they were just trying to avoid getting hammered.

"It feels like when clubs face PSG they go into the game knowing already they won't get one point never mind three."

Rennes have gone six games without a league win, although a strong line-up secured a 1-0 victory at Bastia in the League Cup on Tuesday.

"They are superior to us in every area," said Rennes coach Philippe Montanier, although he remains hopeful of causing an upset.

"In one match everything is possible. If someone wants to become rich they should put a euro on us."

Javier Pastore, who missed the win over Saint-Etienne with conjunctivitis, could start for the visitors at Roazhon Park if Blanc decides to rest one of Angel Di Maria, Edinson Cavani or Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swede, who continues to be linked with a move to MLS when his contract expires at the end of the season, has scored seven goals in his last five league games.

David Luiz, who has had a knee injury, might not feature while goalkeeper Benoit Costil could return for Rennes after being injured on international duty for France last month.

- Ben Arfa for France? -

Angers are in action on Sunday away to Monaco, who are unbeaten in seven games and beginning to look like the side that finished third last season.

Caen, currently in third, visit struggling Bastia on Saturday, while Lyon are away at winless bottom side Troyes as they seek a confidence-boosting win ahead of a crucial Champions League clash against Zenit St Petersburg.

Saint-Etienne are at home to Reims as they look to bounce back from a punishing trip to Paris, and Marseille travel to Nantes on Sunday evening.

Before that, Nice will seek to get back on track after a shock loss to struggling Gazelec Ajaccio when they face Lille on the Cote d'Azur.

Claude Puel's side had scored 17 goals in recording four straight wins prior to that, inspired by the superb form of Hatem Ben Arfa, who is now being linked with a France recall.

"I am not going to question Hatem's quality and his talent," France coach Didier Deschamps told Eurosport as he refused to rule out naming the mercurial playmaker for next month's friendly matches against Germany and England.

"Why not? I will think about it based on what he has done with Nice," added Deschamps of Ben Arfa, who has had a chequered career but has scored seven Ligue 1 goals this season.

Fixtures (kick-offs 1900GMT unless stated)

Friday

Rennes v Paris Saint-Germain (1930GMT)

Saturday

Saint-Etienne v Reims (1600GMT), Troyes v Lyon, Guingamp v Lorient, Bastia v Caen, Toulouse v Montpellier, Gazelec Ajaccio v Bordeaux

Sunday

Nice v Lille (1300GMT), Monaco v Angers (1600GMT), Nantes v Marseille (2000GMT)
Source: AFP