PSG look back to their best, but not yet out of sight in Ligue 1
USA forward Folarin Balogun has scored six goals in his last six games for Monaco (Valery HACHE) Paris Saint-Germain's comprehensive victory over Chelsea in the Champions League last 16 suggests they are coming back into the form which swept them to European glory last season, but they have not appeared as motivated in the chase for yet another Ligue 1 crown. Luis Enrique's side were irresistible in beating Chelsea 3-0 away on Tuesday to advance to the quarter-finals 8-2 on aggregate. They play Liverpool next and will not be intimidated by the prospect of a rematch with the Anfield side, who they defeated on penalties in the last 16 a year ago.
The question is whether that tie, with the first leg in Paris on April 8 and the return six days later, will take all of their attention and leave the door open for Lens to stay in the domestic title race. PSG are going for a 12th French championship in 14 seasons, and a fifth in a row -- that would be the longest streak of consecutive titles since Lyon's seven on the bounce between 2002 and 2008. "We are very demanding, and we are having a very good season," said Luis Enrique.
"This is a special group of players and it is a real pleasure to coach them. " But even such a special squad cannot find it easy to repeat last season's heroics, when they won every honour going before losing the Club World Cup final to Chelsea. Injuries have had an impact after that epic campaign, with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele only able to feature sparingly.
Others are bound to have the looming World Cup on their minds. PSG's last Ligue 1 game ended in a 3-1 home loss to Monaco, before last weekend's home meeting with Nantes was called off to help their Champions League preparations. That postponement gave Lens the chance to go top, but they lost 2-1 at Lorient and so remain a point behind the leaders having played a game more.
Nice have beaten PSG in each of the last two seasons but these are more troubled times on the Cote d'Azur, with the team now coached by Claude Puel sitting just one place above the drop zone. They have an eight-point margin over the relegation places but they have won just two of their last 16 league games. With owners Ineos and Jim Ratcliffe now mainly focused on Manchester United, Nice's ambitions have had to be lowered and the future looks uncertain.