Previews: Bordeaux ready for title tilt

Girondins Bordeaux will be almost at full strength when they visit strugglers Caen with the Ligue 1 title within their grasp. Coach Laurent Blanc will only be missing suspended wing back Matthieu Chalme.

Brazilian midfielder Wendel was back in training earlier than expected this week. The club had said he would miss the rest of the season when he injured a knee in late April.

Bordeaux top the table with a three-point lead over Olympique Marseille. They will be crowned champions if they win or draw at Caen, who humbled them 5-0 last season in Normandy.

Caen had to find another hotel on Thursday night as a swine flu case was detected in the one they had chosen to prepare for the game against Bordeaux.

A US. official who is in France preparing President Barack Obama's visit next week has been hospitalised with swine flu, French officials said. She is part of an official delegation preparing the D-Day ceremonies in Normandy.

Caen are in the lowest position above the safety line on goal difference before they take on the leaders.

Besides Caen, four other clubs will be trying to escape relegation on the last day.

Only a win against mid-table AJ Auxerre could help second-from-bottom Nantes stay in the top flight on goal difference, while St Etienne's fate also depends on rivals' results.

Le Mans, who visit Lorient, and Sochaux, who play at Grenoble, are certain to play in Ligue 1 again next season if they win.

Olympique Marseille will have to make do without captain Lorik Cana, playmaker Mathieu Valbuena and Brazilian striker Brandao, who are all suspended, when they take on Stade Rennes at home.

Second-placed Marseille will snatch the title on goal difference only if they win and Bordeaux lose.

"Whatever happens, we will be happy with our season," Senegalese forward Mamadou Niang told reporters.

"But if we fail to win against Rennes and Bordeaux lose, it would be terrible. That is the situation we absolutely want to avoid," he added.

Paris St Germain coach Paul Le Guen said he knew from the start of the season his contract would not be extended because of his dreadful relationship with sporting director and former PSG team mate Alain Roche.

"I knew him and I knew he would not help me defend the club's best interests. He is always trying to swear allegiance to the powerful but I had no idea how much I would be handicapped by his incompetence and mediocrity," the usually quiet-spoken Le Guen told daily L'Equipe on Friday.

Le Guen is set to be replaced by another former PSG team mate, Antoine Kombouare, currently coach of Valenciennes.

Fifth-placed PSG host Monaco looking to end the season in fourth or fifth, the two Europa League qualifying spots.

Striker Guillaume Hoarau should be back up front after missing the last four games with a groin injury.