Ancelotti eyes Ligue 1 summit

Ancelotti eyes Ligue 1 summit

Published Oct. 6, 2012 9:16 a.m. ET

PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti has his sights firmly fixed on the Ligue 1 summit going into Sunday's clash with Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

Paris Saint-Germain have picked up considerable momentum since drawing their opening three league games of the season, taking maximum points from their next four.

They are now second in the table, three points behind leaders OM with a superior goal difference, and Ancelotti feels it is important his side seize their opportunity to move into top spot.

"If we win against Marseille we will take the lead in Ligue 1 and after three draws at the beginning of the season, that would be good," Ancelotti said.

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"Marseille are a team that will also fight for the title, but this game will not decide anything.

"However, we know the importance for everyone, starting with the fans.

"I do not want to add pressure on the meeting. We will play our football in a tough game with great intensity.

"If you have the opportunity (to go top), this is very good for everyone and it must be done."

Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda will have the task of keeping PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic - who already has eight goals in all competitions this season - at bay, and as far as the France stopper is concerned, there will no room for error on OM's part on Sunday.

Mandanda has no doubt as to Ibrahimovic's quality, but is also keen to stress that he and his team-mates do not fear the Swedish star.

"We are very much familiar with the quality of the Paris team," Mandanda told RMC Sport.

"We know we will have to be very focused and not make any mistakes, because teams like Paris St Germain punish teams for making mistakes.

"We need to defend well and we should also be very aggressive.

"Ibrahimovic is a great player and the star of the league - a great striker in every sense of the word. But this is a football match and we do not fear him."

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