Leaders Lyon, chasing a seventh consecutive title, will welcome back Karim Benzema when they entertain Stade Rennes on Saturday.

The France striker, Ligue 1's top scorer with 17 goas, missed the last two games because of an ankle injury.

Lyon, six points clear of second-placed Bordeaux with six matches left, will be without midfielder Jeremy Toulalan for four weeks due to a sprained left knee ligament.

* Bordeaux, welcoming Caen on Sunday, will be without playmaker Johan Micoud, who has been handed a one-match suspension for cheating to obtain a penalty in a 2-1 win over Nancy last month.

* Valenciennes coach Antoine Kombouare will have to watch from the stands when his team host Racing Strasbourg on Saturday.

Kombouare was handed a four-match ban for insulting the referee during his side's 2-1 defeat by Lyon last month.

* Bottom club Metz will be relegated if they fail to beat fourth-placed Marseille on Saturday.

Marseille, chasing third place and a ticket to the Champions League's qualifying round, will have to do without midfielders Mathieu Valbuena and Karim Ziani -- both sidelined with groin injuries.

* Third-placed Nancy, visiting Lille on Saturday, will miss Youssouf Hadji after the Morocco midfielder pulled a hamstring in training.

* Monaco, in 14th place and who entertain fellow strugglers Toulouse on Saturday, have a new president in Jerome de Bontin.

The businessman, a close friend of Prince Albert, replaces Michel Pastor, who has resigned.

Brazilian defender Paulo Cesar has been dropped from the Toulouse team for kicking Guinea forward Fode Mansare in a training incident.

Reuters