Previews: Bordeaux bidding to banish blip

Off-form Girondins Bordeaux will be without their influential international midfielder Alou Diarra still nursing a groin injury for Sunday's home game against St Etienne.

The French League leaders slumped to a 4-2 defeat at Stade Rennes last weekend and were beaten 2-0 at home to Monaco in a French Cup match on Wednesday.

"We had planned to be in great shape in February, obviously we are not," Girondins coach Laurent Blanc said.

"We are not going to change everything and burn what we worshipped. But I'm waiting for a reaction from the whole team."

"We are going through a rough patch," said defender Matthieu Chalmet. "We must now prove what we are really worth. We know we have to bounce back."

Monaco striker Chu Young-park is out after straining a thigh muscle during the 2-0 victory at Girondins Bordeaux on Wednesday.

Nigeria's Moussa Maazou, who joined the principality club during the winter break, is almost certain to start up front against Olympique Marseille.

After a 3-1 defeat at Racing Lens in a French Cup match, Olympique Marseille had more bad news with Brazilian striker Brandao sidelined by a left thigh injury for three weeks.

Struggling Paris Saint-Germain are without a victory in their last four league matches but striker Ludovic Giuly said the club's poor results stemmed primarily from "bad luck."

"When we concede a goal it looks like we are not capable to react," Giuly said. "Now our aim is to be in the first half of the table by the end of March."

Paris Saint-Germain have slipped to 15th place in the standings after their 3-0 home loss to Lorient last weekend.

Young striker Stephane Sessegnon is suspended for the visit to Nancy on Saturday.

Fourth-placed Olympique Lyon will miss Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun through suspension.