PSG looks to extend league lead against Rennes

PARIS (AP) — After its Champions League heroics, Paris Saint-Germain will try to extend its lead in the French league when it faces Rennes on Saturday.

PSG scored deep into injury time to salvage a 2-2 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.

PSG will be full of confidence against Rennes, which has won only one of its past nine matches and has slipped to 10th.

Marseille moved into second on Sunday after it won at Nice 1-0 and Lyon lost at home to struggling Sochaux 2-1.

Marseille faces Bordeaux on Friday, and coach Elie Baup says "the fight will last right until the end."

Lyon travels to Reims, another relegation candidate, on Sunday.

Rennes was booed off the pitch following last weekend's loss to relegation-threatened Nancy and is desperate for points to keep alive its hopes of sneaking into the Europa League.

"We weren't motivated enough," Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti said. "We deserved the jeers. I can't defend them. We needed more desire, focus ... everything, to win.

"The criticism from the press and the fans is justified. We should have been smiling again but football doesn't give victory to the team which isn't motivated enough. Our spirit has disappeared. We don't seem to want the victory enough."

Rennes will be boosted by the return of defender Herita Ilunga after a month's absence, but will again have to make do without John Mensah, who has yet to play in the league since his arrival in January. Kevin Theophile-Catherine is a doubt.

Marseille will be trying to take advantage of any slip by PSG after moving into second last week.

"It's tightening up between second and fifth," Baup said. "There are six or seven teams fighting for these four places. Sometimes there are unexpected results, anyone can beat anyone. That's why you have to be near the top three or in the top three to prepare well for the final sprint."

The match against Sochaux was Lyon's second loss in a row and the team has now gone four matches without a win, something that has not occurred since 2009.

Another loss could see Saint-Etienne draw level in the standings if it beats Evian. Sunday's other game sees Lille host Lorient.

At the other end of the table, it's a relegation battle as last-place Troyes hosts Nancy.

Two surprise wins over Nice and Rennes has moved Nancy off the bottom, two points above Troyes. However, it is still 19th and four points from safety.

Troyes is also beginning to find form and has lost only one of its past nine matches.

Also, it's: Bastia vs. Brest; Montpellier vs. Valenciennes; Sochaux vs. AC Ajaccio; and Toulouse vs. Nice.