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Monaco coach Guy Lacombe has expressed his admiration for champions Bordeaux as the leading pair in Ligue 1 prepare to meet on Saturday.
A 3-0 victory over le Mans last time out saw Les Girondins move top of the standings, one point head of a Monaco side who were 3-1 winners at Boulogne.
Both clubs have recorded seven wins in the league this season, and Lacombe is aware this weekend's match will be a true test for his players.
"Bordeaux have many strengths and few weaknesses," he said. "I admire the team, they are very efficient.
"They have a wide variety of attacking moves which can surprise you, and I remember in some games last season they were untouchable.
"They have kept that game this season and we can see with the results in the Champions League they are able to sustain that form."
Third-placed Lyon will have one eye on that match at the Stade Chaban-Delmas as they could benefit from a defeat for either side.
St Etienne are this weekend's opponents for Les Gones, who could be without injured duo Lisandro Lopez and Cesar Delgado.
Montpellier have been the surprise package of the season so far and sit fourth in the standings, level on points with Lyon and just two shy of the leaders.
A 3-0 loss to Rennes last weekend was a blot on their formbook, and they will be keen to make amends when they make the trip to Auxerre on Saturday.
Marseille and Paris St Germain had an unscheduled break in Ligue 1 last Sunday when their match was postponed following cases of swine flu in the PSG camp.
OM will return to action against Toulouse on Saturday while PSG, who still have doubts over flu victims Ludovic Giuly and Mamadou Sakho, travel to Sochaux 24 hours later.
Bottom side Grenoble will be desperate to get their campaign off the ground when they take on Lille, having lost all 10 of their league matches to date.
Lens and Le Mans are already eight points clear of Grenoble and will be looking to widen that gap when they face Lorient and Nice, respectively.
Newcomers Boulogne play host to Nancy in Saturday's final match with Valenciennes visiting mid-table rivals Rennes on Sunday.


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