Preview: PSG host Monaco, Brest travel to Nantes

Friday night will kick-off another round of Ligue 1 Mcdonald's action, with two big games to kick-off the weekend's matches.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco: Les Monégasques travel to the capital

Luis Enrique's and Adi Hütter's men will meet for the third time this season as Monaco travel to the Parc des Princes to face the league leaders on Friday evening. There is a lot at stake for both sides in a vital juncture of the season that sees both teams in UEFA Champions League play-off action next week. Les Parisiens come off the back of an entertaining 5-2 win on the road to Brest which has taken the league leaders to 50 points in the current Ligue 1 McDonald's standings. Luis Enrique's men are unbeaten domestically this season, hoping to continue their run against fellow Champions League contenders Monaco.

Les Monégasques, despite a promising start to the season had begun to hit a snag before their positive win against Aston Villa in the Champions League which has seemed to put the principality side back on a positive run, with wins and plenty of goals against Stade Rennais (3-2) and AJ Auxerre (4-2). Monaco are currently struggling away from home, in fact embarking on their worst run on the road in four years - not winning any of their last four games away from Stade Louis II.

"I think that this game will be similar to our last two matches against them," said PSG manager Luis Enrique in his pre-match press conference. "Monaco are a well-organised and well-built side that has improved a lot without the ball. They occupy the pitch very well, with quality players in the middle and wing players who like to cut inside, and they don't do you any favours with the ball. They're a fellow title contender and a tough team that causes us a lot of problems. Our last few games against them have gone well for us, but tomorrow will be another difficult one."

FC Nantes vs Stade Brestois: Les Canaris need points against Brest's Pirates

A Breton derby? Or a western rivalry? It really depends who you ask. But both sides meet in a Ligue 1 McDonald's clash which has plenty of consequences to kick-off Friday evening's action (19:00 CET). Les Canaris are still in plenty of danger at the bottom of the table, sitting only three points ahead of the relegation play-off spots. Antoine Kombouaré's men have struggled at home this season, taking only 10 points from their nine games at Stade de la Beaujoire this season.

Stade Brestois are meanwhile hoping to get through the game relatively unscathed, before the first of two  UEFA Champions League knockout play-off games against fellow Ligue 1 Mcdonald's side Paris Saint-Germain next week. Éric Roy's men have plenty to think about in the league too, with Lyon just sitting two points in front of Les Pirates in the race for European football. A win could potentially put the Breton side back up into the top seven, and bounce back from their 5-2 thrashing at home to PSG in the league last weekend.

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