[Diomed]

Brief news from Ligue 1
Brief news from French clubs involved in this weekend's Ligue 1 matches:

* Tony Heurtebis will be in goal for Nantes when the eight-times champions visit Le Mans on Saturday in a game that could see them relegated for the first time after a record 44 consecutive years in the top flight.
Nantes will drop if they lose on Saturday and fellow strugglers Nice and Valenciennes do not.

* Paris St Germain, who need just a point out of their last four matches to make sure of escaping relegation, will miss striker Pierre-Alain Frau and defender Sammy Traore through injuries when they host champions Olympique Lyon on Saturday.
Lyon have already secured a sixth consecutive title.

* Lyon's Czech striker Milan Baros will be eligible to play on Saturday but will miss the remainder of the season.
Baros was handed a three-match ban by the French professional football league (LFP) for pinching his nose in front of Stade Rennes's Cameroon-born midfielder Stephane M'Bia in a Ligue 1 match last month.
The sanction, however, will take effect on Monday, which means Baros can play against PSG but will miss his side's last three league games.

* Sixth-placed Rennes, who host Girondins Bordeaux on Saturday, have reached a three-year deal with Dutch side Heerenveen's Sweden defender Petter Hansson.
Second-placed Bordeaux, who lost at home to Rennes this season, have gone nine matches without defeat but could struggle against Ligue 1's second-tightest defence.

* Auxerre defender Bacary Sagna has said he wanted to leave the Burgundy club and would be tempted by a move to the Premier League.
Nothing will be at stake for Auxerre when they host strugglers Troyes on Saturday.

* Lowly Nancy can turn to history for inspiration when they host strugglers Nice on Saturday. The last time the easterners lost a top-flight match at home to the side from the French Riviera was 27 years ago.

www.football.guardian.co.uk