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Summary Marseille's form has dimmed with three straight defeats and no goals scored.
Having started the season brightly, Marseilles form has dimmed with three straight defeats and no goals scored, while its bitter rival Paris Saint-Germain has won its past four matches in all competitions and taken top spot in the league.Marseille lost 2-0 to PSG in the League Cup on Wednesday, relinquishing its grip on the trophy it had won three consecutive times, and that followed losses to Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Europa League and lowly Troyes in the French league.Marseille needs to rediscover its scoring touch when it travels to play Corsican side Ajaccio on Sunday. PSG, which is three points clear at the top having played a game more than third-place Marseille, looks to keep a fifth straight clean sheet when it hosts Saint-Etienne on Saturday.Toulouse, which is away to Bordeaux on Sunday, is in second place, three points behind PSG, but having played the same amount of games.Marseille has struggled to cope with the loss of top scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac, who fractured a bone in his foot against Troyes two weeks ago. Loic Remy, who has replaced him in attack, still looks some way short of his best, having been plagued by a thigh injury for several months. Winger Andre Ayew, who scored so freely last season, has yet to score in the league.Still, Remy is optimistic that Marseille can still challenge for honors.Marseille will be without defender Rod Fanni against Ajaccio, while Ayew is highly doubtful after hurting his left foot against PSG. Ayew, who left the field on crutches Wednesday night, was set to have tests later Thursday to determine the nature of the injury.For PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti, its more a case of who will choose to leave out against Saint-Etienne, rather than whos fit or available.Ancelotti rested top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Marseille, but will be counting on the imposing Swede to lead the attack against Saint-Etienne. Ibrahimovic sits proudly at the top of the scorers charts with 10 goals in nine league games.Ancelotti was also relieved to see playmaker Javier Pastore find some form. Pastore, who cost €42 million when he joined from Palermo last season, has been struggling lately, but he set up PSGs second goal against Marseille with a superbly weighted pass for Jeremy Menez.In other matches, Brest hosts Lorient on Friday, while on Saturday it is: Evian vs. Lille; Nice vs. Nancy; Rennes vs. Reims; Troyes vs. defending champion Montpellier, and Valenciennes vs. Sochaux.Fourth-place Lyon, which trails PSG by four points, hosts mid-table Bastia in Sundays other game.
