Lyon end what has been a bitter-sweet week with a match with Nice that should take them closer to the historic achievement of a fifth consecutive title.

Last weekend, any lingering doubts about the title race were ended when Lyon beat Troyes 1-0 and their closest pursuers Bordeaux lost at Paris St Germain.

That means Lyon lead by 12 points with five matches to play and not even the one-eyed Bordeaux fan would be prepared to stake any money on his team now.

However, what should have been a celebratory week for Lyon turned into something of a wake after their elimination from the Champions League by an AC Milan team that appeared to be chasing shadows for much of the second leg until they scored two late goals to stun the French side.

"On the two matches, we deserved to qualify," coach Gerard Houllier told club website www.olweb.fr. "That's football.

"But we are first in the championship with a 12-point lead. I think we will be champions. We also want to win the Coupe de France.

"It's in adversity that you bounce back - you will see that with my team."

Bordeaux host St Etienne in a match where there will be a warm reception for visiting coach Elie Baup by the fans of the club he led to the 1999 Ligue 1 title.

The boardroom welcome might be less friendly, however - Baup sued the club when he was sacked.

PSG, who like Marseille are facing the prospect of a points deduction for the events surrounding the recent meeting between the club, visit Lens while Marseille visit Monaco in the Cote d'Azur derby match.

Rennes are in the in-form team in Ligue 1, with seven consecutive wins having lifted them to fourth, and will be confident of an eighth against a Sochaux team that are now virtually safe from relegation while Auxerre and Le Mans meet in the other Sunday match.

Third-placed Lille make the trip to Nancy.

With the title race effectively over, much of the interest will be in the relegation dogfight with - realistically - four teams scrapping to avoid finishing in the bottom three.

The fourth-bottom spot that would mean safety at the end of the season is currently occupied by Troyes, who have not won in their last 12 Ligue 1 games.

They visit second-bottom Metz at the Stade St Symphorien knowing they will be level on points with their opponents if they lose.

Third-bottom Strasbourg are two points behind Troyes and host Nantes. Bottom club Ajaccio are five points away from safety and must win at home to Toulouse.