It's a make or break weekend for Paris St Germain coach Guy Lacombe -again.

Time is running out for Lacombe to prove he is the man to lead the big-spending capital giants into the Champions League.

PSG sit 12th in the table on 15 points and in terms of both position and points, they are closer to the relegation zone than they are to qualifying for Europe's elite competition.

And with a tricky trip to Le Mans on Saturday, Lacombe may find himself joining the dole queue on Monday morning if his underperforming charges do not come away with three points.

Following a dismal 3-1 home defeat to Lens last week, Lacombe's 31 league matches in charge of PSG, since taking over in January, have yielded just eight victories and 36 points.

"I am not thinking about the worst case scenario," Lacombe insisted.

"If I had panicked against Lens, that would have been a mistake. I am also rational.

"When it's not working, I say so. But I also tell the lads when they're doing well.

"I have confidence in my players. We will win matches. This will turn around."

It must do soon as Lacombe's league record is poor. But for a Cup final victory over Marseille in May Lacombe might already be out of a

job.

At an average of 1.16 points per match, that does not compare well to his two predecessors: Laurent Fournier managed 1.62 points per game from February to December 2005 and Vahid Halilhodzic earned 1.68 points per game in his 63 matches from July 2003 to February 2005.

Another manager who is far from happy is Marseille's Albert Emon. After watching his side streak to a share of top spot after the first six matches, Emon's players have lost four of their next six and slumped to 11 points off the pace down in sixth spot.

Marseille, who lost at home to unfashionable Lorient last week, face a tough task on Sunday as they travel to third placed Lille, who have three wins and two draws in their last five league matches.

But Marseille chairman Pape Diouf has laughed off suggestions his coach should resign.

"It is Albert Emon who guided the team to the top of the standings and I don't see why he should resign even if, to be honest, I have to add that no coach is appointed for life," Diouf said.

Whatever the troubles of PSG and Marseille, they pail in comparison to Monaco, who only two and a half years ago lined up against Porto in the Champions League final.

They have lost eight of their opening 12 matches and prop up the table, despite being able to call on the likes of Czech international striker Jan Koller, former Italian international forward Marco Di Vaio and former Spain international midfielder Lopez Gerard.

Monaco travel to Troyes on

Sunday.

Another team struggling compared with last season is Bordeaux. Second last time out they are down in ninth this season, although they will be boosted by an international call-up for their Brazilian midfielder Fernando, ahead of the visit of Auxerre on Saturday.

The 25-year-old has been called up before, five years ago, but never made it onto the pitch, something he is hoping to achieve against Switzerland in Basel on Wednesday.

"To be picked by Brazil is the highest level, it's something which brings great pleasure, particularly when you see how many players Brazil have to choose from.

"Now I hope to be part of the squad more often, not only every five years."

Champions Lyon, who lead the league standings by nine points from surprise package Nancy, host Valenciennes on Friday night in a match brought forward due to the France-New Zealand rugby Test to be played at the Stade Gerland on Saturday.

Lyon lost their unbeaten record last week in a 1-0 defeat at Rennes.