Season on the line for PSG

By Chris Burke

After Olympique Lyonnais and OGC Nice lost to lower division sides yesterday, Ligue 1 will at least be guaranteed two teams in the French Cup quarter-finals as holders Paris Saint-Germain FC travel to AJ Auxerre and Stade Rennais FC entertain AS Monaco FC tonight.

European hopes
The French Cup appears to be the only route to Europe for 12th-placed PSG this season, although coach Laurent Fournier is keen to reduce the pressure on his players. "We'll be the underdogs. If we lose, everyone will think it's normal," he said. Fournier's task certainly looks difficult, with both Pauleta and Lorik Cana ruled out through injury, and PSG never having beaten Auxerre in the cup.

2003 final
Indeed, this is a repeat of the 2003 final, won 2-1 by the Burgundy club at the Stade de France. Guy Roux's team have a fine knockout pedigree which again showed itself in their most recent outing, a decisive 3-1 second-leg victory against AFC Ajax in the UEFA Cup. "That was a great result, but we have to stay calm and get on with the next match," said experienced midfielder Philippe Violeau.

Monaco determined
After dropping 12 points behind Lyon in the championship race, Monaco will be determined to progress in this competition. However, the 1991 winners face a stiff test away to a Rennes side undefeated at home since October and keen to pick up their first French Cup since 1971.

Lille test
Elsewhere, LOSC Lille Métropole will have to be on their guard at home to Ligue 2 outfit Grenoble Foot 38, while fourth-division US Albi celebrate their first appearance in the last 16 by tackling FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. The tie between US Boulogne and FC Nantes Atlantique has fallen victim to the weather.