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Under-fire Marseille look for Nice lift in French Ligue 1

Paris (AFP) - Title challengers Marseille will look to put their legal woes behind them and reclaim top spot in Ligue 1 when they travel to Nice in Friday's early French league match.

Marseille -- just one point behind leaders Lyon after 21 games -- visit mid-table Nice just days after French police arrested ten people as part of an enquiry into suspect transfers involving the club.

The transfers under investigation date back to 2010 -- the year the club won the last of their ten Ligue 1 titles -- and include that of French international striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, the club's top scorer.

The southern giants however face another challenge at Mediterranean neighbours Nice, who have gotten their year off to a bright start with wins against Bordeaux and Lorient.

Nice midfielder Eric Bautheac and defender Jordan Amavi, who have both been reported Marseille transfer targets, will get an opportunity to impress coach Marcelo Bielsa.

"Marseille are a 'big, big' challenge," admitted Bautheac. "They are, however, slightly less efficient than they were in the first half of the season, and it's up to us to seize the opportunity.

"It's even better that they won Sunday (against Guingamp), so at least they won't be coming to us with the knife between their teeth."

Amavi added: "(Steve) Mandanda is a good goalkeeper. Gignac scores every weekend. They are stuffed with talent.

"But they are human like us: they have two arms, two legs. And if we do the right things on the pitch, there will be no problem."

Bielsa will be forced to reorganise his defence with Rod Fanni and Benjamin Mendy suspended, and Nicolas Nkoulou on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon.

Winger Romain Alessandrini also remains uncertain after picking up an ankle injury in last weekend's 2-1 win against Guingamp.

Nice, meanwhile, are also embroiled in controversy amid a legal wrangle with FIFA over new recruit Hatem Ben Arfa, who was on loan to Hull City from Newcastle United during the first half of the season.

World football governing body's rules' state that a player can appear for no more than two clubs in the same season.

Claude Puel's side also have their own injury woes -- defender Mathieu Bodmer and midfielders Didier Digard and Mahamane Traore have all have calf injuries, goalkeeper Joris Delle (cruciate ligaments); midfielder Mahamane Traore (calf) and striker Xavier Pentecote (back).

Champions Paris Saint-Germain, who knocked Bordeaux out of the French Cup midweek, face a tricky trip to St Etienne, just a point behind them in fourth, on Sunday.

PSG coach Laurent Blanc will have taken some pleasure at seeing St Etienne having to go to extra-time in their Cup match with second tier Tours before prevailing 5-3.

Nantes, sitting eighth, will be looking to build the momentum at Montpellier, two places above them.

Lyon's hopes of the domestic double ended on Tuesday as a hat-trick by Vincent Bessat gave Nantes a 3-2 French Cup victory. Lyon turn their focus to fourth-from-bottom Metz on Sunday.

Monaco, in fifth, travel to Lille, after eliminating Ligue 1 rivals Evian from the French Cup on Wednesday.

Bordeaux, sitting seventh, travel to Bastia, two points above the first relegation spot and stung by their French Cup elimination by fourth division Quevilly, as Guingamp, in 14th, host a Brittany derby against Lorient, just below them in the standings.

Elsewhere, Evian host Toulouse as fellow strugglers Lens and Caen travel to Reims and Rennes respectively on Sunday.

Fixtures (all 19:00GMT unless stated):

Friday

Nice v Marseille

Saturday

Lille v Monaco (16:00); Montpellier v Nantes; Bastia v Bordeaux; Evian v Toulouse; Guingamp v Lorient

Sunday

Lyon v Metz (13:00); Reims v Lens (16:00); Rennes v Caen (16:00); St. Etienne v Paris Saint-Germain (20:00)