Focus on first place for PSG
12/02/2012
Paris Saint-Germain will be hoping that the wintry chill that holds France in its grip will not put their title bid on ice when they step out against OGC Nice.
OGC Nice
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The prospect of a first Ligue 1 title since 1994 for the club from the capital seemingly grows more likely by the week. While last weekend's 3-1 defeat of Evian TG FC may not have been as convincing as the scoreline suggests, it still marked a third successive league win under Carlo Ancelotti's tenure and a sixth consecutive victory in all competitions.
"It's a good result as it was a difficult game. Evian played well and often had possession. We had some problems in getting the ball back, but it was important to win. Our first half was good, but we couldn't find any solutions in attack," said Ancelotti, who saw Nenê score twice and Kévin Gameiro - for the first time since Week 17 - also find the net after Cédric Cambon had given the visitors a surprise half-time lead at the Parc des Princes.
"We reacted well in the second half. That's what I want to focus on. That's what I was happy with. I'm satisfied, even if we have to still improve."
The demanding Italian may find it difficult to identify exactly in which areas his team needs to make progress. The win over Evian kept them three points clear of Montpellier Hérault SC coming into Week 23 and extended their advantage over third-placed LOSC Lille Métropole to double figures, though the champions do have a game in hand.
PSG have the best defensive record in Ligue 1 and only Montpellier can boast greater prowess in front of goal. They do, however, need to improve on their record at the Stade du Ray where last season's 3-0 win on the south coast ended a run of five defeats in as many visits.
Perillous
"It's a perillous trip," said PSG midfielder Mathieu Bodmer, who has surprisingly emerged as a key component in Ancelotti's plans. "Nice need points, as do we in terms of the Ligue 1 title. We're going down there to take three points. We're going to be focused, highly-motivated, and will go out onto the pitch with the aim of playing better than we did against Evian, but it's the result which counts."
PSG have managed to achieve results on their travels this season, and boast the best away record in Ligue 1. By contrast, just six teams have picked up fewer points at home than Nice this season, and Rene Marsiglia's men only halted a four-game run of league defeats with a 1-1 draw at AC Ajaccio last weekend. The result lifted Nice off the bottom of the table, and raised spirits in the camp.
"We came back from nowhere in this match, especially after our first-half display, which was the worst of the season," said Marsiglia, whose team were beaten 2-1 in Paris earlier this season while Eric Roy was still at the helm.
"I don't want to look for excuses, but it was our sixth game in five weeks. With all the injuries, those away at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the suspensions, it's not easy. But it's positive that we found the necessary strength to equalise. This point is going to do us a lot of good mentally."
Marsiglia should have striker Eric Mouloungui available after he returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Gabon but Mali midfielder Drissa Diakité is not yet back from the competition. Injury means former PSG men David Hellebuyck and Didier Digard will not face their now very much re-modelled ex-club.