Paris (AFP)

In the boiling Cauldron of Saint-Etienne, the PSG of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé aspire to the honorary title of "autumn champion", Sunday at the end of the 18th day of Ligue 1, which can allow his dolphin Marseille to continue in Metz his winning streak.

- The shock: Saint-Etienne against PSG -

On paper, the shock seems unbalanced between the firepower of Paris and Stéphanois in small form. But supporters of the Greens know how to make any trip to Geoffroy-Guichard complicated, even for the undisputed leader of the Championship. For the status of "autumn champion" to escape him, on the evening of December 21, PSG would have to lose its next two matches and OM, five points behind, win everything.

Undefeated since early November, Paris remains on an offensive festival Wednesday in the Champions League against Galatasaray (5-0), with a goal for each of its attacking stars: Neymar, Mauro Icardi, Mbappé and even Edinson Cavani, out of the bench to close the mark on penalty. Saint-Etienne is not as dashing: Claude Puel's men remain on a defeat in Reims in the league and a setback in Wolfsburg in the Europa League on Thursday.

- The player: Marcelo -

Sunday, Lyon celebrates the retirement of Bernard Lacombe (67), former glory of OL and adviser to President Jean-Michel Aulas. But, on the occasion of the reception in Rennes, the atmosphere could be weighed down by the anti-Marcelo sling which shakes part of the stadium. The last incident occurred during the post-match celebration against Leipzig (2-2) on Tuesday in the Champions League: an ultra descended from the Virage Nord brandished a flag with the inscription "Marcelo Dégage" surrounding a head of 'donkey. Captain Memphis Depay came to snatch his hands from him, Marcelo used his to send fingers of honor to his detractors ...

At 32, the Brazilian defender has become the head of the Turkish ultra Lyon, annoyed by the sawtooth performance of their team. The former Besiktas player has been collecting whistles and insults since his sharp altercation with ultras at Lisbon airport after the defeat against Benfica (2-1) in late October.

- The number: 7 -

Seven is the number of consecutive victories that Marseille hopes to win on Saturday during their trip to Metz. Seven is also the number of consecutive defeats that Toulouse has before receiving Reims, the worst series in progress among the major European championships ...

OM have aligned champion statistics since early November and a home victory against Lille. With six wins in a row, the Olympians have had their best series in Ligue 1 since the period August-October 2014. At that time, the striker André-Pierre Gignac and the coach Marcelo Bielsa had chained eight. To get closer, the men of André Villas-Boas can count in Metz on the return of Dario Benedetto, forfeited last Sunday against Bordeaux.

In a reverse dynamic, Toulouse wants to end Saturday against Reims in its negative spiral. For the red lantern, this black series recalls the chain of 8 defeats during the 2004-2005 season. A new disillusionment would make Antoine Kombouaré's position even more unstable, appointed in mid-October in place of Alain Casanova.

- Gironde revolt -

What spectacle will the supporters of Bordeaux deliver on Sunday against Strasbourg? The Girondins' last home game had started off badly, as the intrusion of ultras on the edge of the lawn had interrupted the match against Nîmes. He ended in euphoria (6-0), including a hat-trick by Josh Maja.

The good health of Bordeaux, 5th two points from the podium, contrasts with the governance crisis between American shareholders tearing apart, coupled with the fight that the ultras fight against the deputy president Frédéric Longuépée. It was the impossibility for the first to deploy a banner hostile to the second which had caused overflows facing Nîmes. Will there be a new pass of arms?

The program for the 18th day of Ligue 1:

Friday

Lille 2 - 1 Montpellier

Saturday

(5.30 p.m.) Metz - Marseille

(8 p.m.) Nîmes - Nantes

Brest - Nice

Angers - Monaco

Amiens - Dijon

Toulouse - Reims

Sunday

(3:00 p.m.) Bordeaux - Strasbourg

(5:00 p.m.) Lyon - Rennes

(9 p.m.) Saint-Etienne - Paris SG

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