Payet still hopeful, Girard trusting youth
Dimitri Payet insists he and his team-mates have not given up hope of Marseille winning their first French Ligue 1 title in five years - despite trailing leaders Paris Saint-Germain by five points with seven games to go.
Marseille could have dislodged PSG from top spot had they won last Sunday's encounter at the Stade Velodrome but, despite leading twice, they lost 3-2 as Laurent Blanc's side earned some breathing space at the summit. Marseille have the chance to reduce the deficit to just two points when they travel to Bordeaux on Sunday, as PSG face Bastia in the Coupe de la Ligue final a day earlier, and winger Payet believes his side are not yet out of the title race.
"It's not over. As long as it's mathematically possible, we won't say goodbye to the title," the 28-year-old France international told the Ligue 1 website. "There are two teams ahead of us, and we have no room for error right to the end. It'll be difficult, but we believe we can do it and we'll be ready if things don't move quickly up ahead of us." Marseille's task is far from straightforward, however, given they have endured nearly four decades of failure at the Stade Chaban-Delmas - with their last victory in Bordeaux occurring in 1977.
Lille travel to Evian looking for their fifth victory in six games and Great Danes boss Rene Girard could turn to his youngsters once again after singing their praises following last weekend's 3-1 victory at Reims. "If young people are there (in the team), it is because I think they can be," Girard told Lille's official website. "It's good for the club to know that there are boys ready for the challenge."
Saint Etienne can dent Lille's slim hopes of securing European football next season and simultaneously boost their chances of UEFA Champions League qualification by beating Nantes at home. Christophe Galtier's side are unbeaten in their last six league matches and sit four points behind Marseille.
Bottom side Lens host fellow strugglers Lorient knowing that a seventh league defeat in eight games will take them another step closer to Ligue 2 football next season. Nine points separate the two teams going into the Stade de la Licorne encounter and Lens seem destined for the drop after picking up only one victory in their last 12 league matches.
The race to avoid relegation also sees 18th-placed Toulouse host Montpellier at the Stadium Municipal, while Reims can put further daylight between them and the bottom three with victory at home against Nice. Mid-table teams Rennes and Guingamp are unlikely to be embroiled in the battle to beat the drop and they lock horns at the Stade de la Route de Lorient, with Philippe Montanier's side looking to record a clean sweep of Breton derby victories this season.