title race this weekend with a helping hand from
their Cote d'Azur rivals Nice, who host reigning
champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Leonardo Jardim effectively wrote off his side's chances
of lifting the French Cup, fielding a team full of
youngsters that was demolished 5-0 by PSG in
Wednesday's semi-final.
But the Monaco coach hopes the gamble will pay off
with his club hunting a first league crown since 2000,
as well as bidding to topple Europe's elite in the
Champions League.
"There was no good or bad choice. We've got matches
coming one after another, we're playing every three
days," Jardim said after the PSG defeat, with Monaco at
home to Juventus next Wednesday in the first leg of
their Champions League semi-final tie.
"This match we therefore decided to play the younger
players so the others could rest. Our core of 12 or 13
players can't play 13 matches in a row in such a short
space of time.
"Now we're focused on hosting Toulouse on Saturday.
Our goal is to win a trophy at the end of the season
and we're going to give it our all."
Monaco lead PSG on goal difference at the top of Ligue
1 but have a game in hand on Unai Emery's side, who
are targeting a third successive sweep of the domestic
trophies after setting up a May 27 cup final against
outsiders Angers.
However, PSG must navigate a tricky trip to Nice --
who have lost just twice and are unbeaten at home this
season -- to stay in the running for a fifth league title
in a row.
- 'Anything can happen' -
Nice are guaranteed a place in the Champions League
qualifying rounds next season but must beat PSG to
realistically stand a chance of finishing in the top two
and earning direct entrance into the group stage.
"We're expecting a big crowd. I'm looking forward to
seeing the passion of the Nice fans and playing this
team," said Nice midfielder Vincent Koziello.
"We'll have to lift our game if we want to get a result.
We'll see if we can do that.
"It's going to be pretty difficult to do better than third
between now and the end of the season, but anything
can happen in football."
PSG go into the game having been fined 100,000 euros
for damage caused by their fans at Lyon where they
defeated Monaco 4-1 to win the League Cup final
earlier this month.
They were also told to play two home games behind
closed doors although that sanction was suspended.
Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette will miss Friday's
visit to Angers and the France striker is a doubt for
next week's Europa League semi-final first leg against
Ajax.
"For now, we don't have a timeframe for his recovery
and we'll see how things progress from day to day,"
said Lyon coach Bruno Genesio of Lacazette, who has
scored 31 goals in all competitions this term.
"He's out for Angers and we'll see whether he can play
against Ajax. I hope so but we won't take any risk."
Bordeaux continue their European push away to 18th-
placed Dijon on Sunday, while Marseille -- undefeated
in seven matches -- will look to pounce on any slip-up
when they travel to Caen.
Rock-bottom Bastia face Rennes behind closed doors at
a neutral ground as punishment for the crowd violence
that forced their home match with Lyon on April 16 to
be abandoned.
Four wins in five have propelled Lorient out of the
danger zone and they'll look to pull further clear of the
drop on Saturday against Nantes.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Friday
Angers v Lyon (1845)
Saturday
Monaco v Toulouse (1500), Bastia v Rennes, Guingamp
v Saint-Etienne, Metz v Nancy, Montpellier v Lille,
Nantes v Lorient (1800)
Sunday
Caen v Marseille (1300), Dijon v Bordeaux (1500), Nice
v Paris Saint-Germain (1900)Â
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