tories in Players Championship event on Sunday. Aft

[blueberryjerry]

PARIS - While many expected Paris Saint-Germain to reign supreme this season, the race for the French league title has turned into a three-team contest. .Ahead of this weekends final round of matches before the winter break, the defending champion trails Marseille by one point, with Lyon just two points behind them.Pessimism is growing among PSG fans before Montpelliers visit to the Parc des Princes on Saturday. The team is not playing well, and Montpellier has lost only two of its last five trips to Paris. The Mediterranean side also overcame the big-spending club to win the French title in 2012 on a budget of $45 million.After claiming an eighth consecutive home win last week, seven-time champion Lyon travels to Bordeaux, and Marseille hosts Lille on Sunday.Here are some things to know about this weekends matches:___BIG STARS, NO SPIRIT:At least for now, PSG coach Laurent Blanc is more concerned with his players attitude than their results.The former France coach got some respite with a 3-1 win at Ajaccio in the League Cup midweek but is under growing pressure after back-to-back defeats against Barcelona in the Champions League and Guingamp in the league. Both mishaps have cruelly exposed PSGs lack of concentration and fighting spirit.In a team there are leaders and, when its not going the way you want, these leaders and also the coach, of course, they have to raise their game to ensure that the collective do, too, Blanc said.PSG has been enjoying possession a lot this season but is struggling to create chances.We were better last year, midfielder Thiago Motta said. We had a lot of the ball, but we knew exactly what we wanted to do with it, and what we needed to do with it to put our opponents in danger. With or without the ball we were playing more as a team.RABIOT LINKED WITH TOTTENHAM:Despite extending his contract with PSG until 2019 a few weeks ago, promising midfielder Adrien Rabiot has been linked with a move to English Premier League side Tottenham during the winter transfer window.According to LEquipe, Tottenham officials recently met the 19-year-old Rabiots mother to discuss a possible move to Spurs.Rabiot, who has been nurtured by PSG, has a tense relationship with coach Blanc, and has been involved in just four games this season.JOURDREN BETTING ON MARSEILLE:Goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren sees similarities between his Marseille and the 2012 Montpellier team that beat PSG to the title.I can see us in this team, both offensively and defensively. They dont concede and score a lot, the same way we did with Olivier Giroud, said Jourdren, who won the title alongside the France striker before his departure to Arsenal.Marseille, which lost at Monaco last weekend, has the leagues best attack, and only three teams have conceded fewer goals than Marcelo Bielsas side.TOURE EXTENDS DEAL:Up-and-coming Bordeaux striker Thomas Toure has signed a new four-year deal that should keep him at the club until 2019. The 20-year-old Toure, who has scored twice and delivered four assists in 15 games, was reportedly on Marseille radar. . Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will reunite at this weekends season-opening World Cup at Canada Olympic Park as they begin their buildup to the Winter Games in Sochi. . LOUIS -- Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks won the matchup of unbeaten teams. . -- Pinch-runner Rajai Daviss decision to steal third base just as Oakland catcher Derek Norris was throwing the ball back to the pitcher caught most everyone by surprise -- including several of his Detroit teammates.Gerwyn Price added his name to the list of talent coming through the PDC ranks with victories in Players Championship event on Sunday. After victory for Josh Payne on Saturday, Prices win was another notable success for the exciting new wave coming through the PDC ranks.Sundays event saw Price make amends for his first round exit with a storming run to victory, while South Africas Devon Petersen hit a fantastic nine-dart finish against tournament runner-up Peter Wright in their last 16 match - it was the second of the weekend after Dave Chisnalls effort on Saturday. Players Championship Winners 2016 One Peter Wright Two Stephen Bunting Three Michael van Gerwen Four Benito van de Pas Five Ian White Six Josh Payne Seven Gerwyn Price But Sunday belonged to former rugby player Price who claimed the £10,000 winners cheque and a maiden Players Championship success. . .The Welshman made progress through the early part of the draw by seeing off Dimitri van den Bergh, Darren Webster and Daryl Gurney.Matt Clark was beaten 6-2 in the last 16 and Price followed that with two more 6-2 victories to beat Ricky Evans and Benito van de Pas in the quarter and semi-final.Prices opponent in the final was Snakebite and Price recorded an impressive 6-3 win to add his name to the Players Championship role of honour this season. Also See: Payne off the mark in Barnsley Mighty MVG overtakes Taylor Sky Bets darts odds On Sky TV Get Sky Sports ' ' '

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