The Japan Times - PSG look back to their best, but not yet out of sight in Ligue 1

Luis Enrique's side were irresistible in beating Chelsea 3-0 away on Tuesday to advance to the quarter-finals 8-2 on aggregate.

They play Liverpool next and will not be intimidated by the prospect of a rematch with the Anfield side, who they defeated on penalties in the last 16 a year ago.

The question is whether that tie, with the first leg in Paris on April 8 and the return six days later, will take all of their attention and leave the door open for Lens to stay in the domestic title race.

PSG are going for a 12th French championship in 14 seasons, and a fifth in a row -- that would be the longest streak of consecutive titles since Lyon's seven on the bounce between 2002 and 2008.

"We are very demanding, and we are having a very good season," said Luis Enrique. "This is a special group of players and it is a real pleasure to coach them."

But even such a special squad cannot find it easy to repeat last season's heroics, when they won every honour going before losing the Club World Cup final to Chelsea.

Injuries have had an impact after that epic campaign, with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele only able to feature sparingly. Others are bound to have the looming World Cup on their minds.

PSG's last Ligue 1 game ended in a 3-1 home loss to Monaco, before last weekend's home meeting with Nantes was called off to help their Champions League preparations.

That postponement gave Lens the chance to go top, but they lost 2-1 at Lorient and so remain a point behind the leaders having played a game more.

Nice have beaten PSG in each of the last two seasons but these are more troubled times on the Cote d'Azur, with the team now coached by Claude Puel sitting just one place above the drop zone.

They have an eight-point margin over the relegation places but they have won just two of their last 16 league games.

With owners Ineos and Jim Ratcliffe now mainly focused on Manchester United, Nice's ambitions have had to be lowered and the future looks uncertain.

"It is always interesting to play the best team in Europe and see how we measure up," said Puel, but perhaps the main objective left for Nice now is a French Cup semi-final against Strasbourg next month.

Player to watch: Folarin Balogun

The 24-year-old USA striker is in a reich vein of form, having scored six goals in his last six games between league and Champions League.

The New York-born former Arsenal striker scored twice in his team's Champions League play-off loss to PSG and has been on target in each of Monaco's last four Ligue 1 games.

He has now improved to 14 goals in all competitions this season, helping revive Monaco's bid for Champions League qualification while he confirms his status as the main contender to lead the line for the co-hosts at the upcoming World Cup.

Key stats

2 - Nice are one of only two teams to have beaten PSG twice in Ligue 1 since Luis Enrique became coach of the capital club in 2023 -- the other is Monaco

5 - Monaco have won their last five Ligue 1 games, and are unbeaten in eight

73 - Vahid Halilhodzic will become the oldest coach in Ligue 1 history when he takes charge of Nantes against Strasbourg at the age of 73 years and 158 days

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Lens v Angers (1945)

Saturday

Toulouse v Lorient (1600), Auxerre v Brest (1800), Nice v Paris Saint-Germain (2000)

Sunday

Lyon v Monaco (1400), Marseille v Lille, Paris FC v Le Havre, Rennes v Metz (all 1615), Nantes v Strasbourg (1945)

Y.Hara--JT