Paris Saint Germain vs Lens preview - Maxwell taking nothing for granted

Posted Friday, March 06, 2015 by PA

Paris St Germain defender Maxwell is targeting an assault on the Ligue 1 summit as the perfect preparation for a Champions League showdown with Chelsea.

PSG face struggling Lens at the Parc des Princes on Saturday knowing a win would see them leapfrog leaders Lyon, who do not play at Montpellier until the following day, ahead of Wednesday night's trip to Stamford Bridge.

However, Maxwell is taking nothing for granted and has reminded his team-mates that they trailed 1-0 at Lens in October last year before eventually running out 3-1 winners.

The 33-year-old Brazilian told PSGtv: "As in every league game, we must fight. We all remember the first game where we were losing 1-0 and we had to fight to win. It will be complicated, especially just before such an important match in the Champions League.

"The objective will be to take three points that will be very important at this time of the season. We cannot afford to miss another opportunity to take the lead of the championship.

"We are expecting a big fight on Saturday and we hope to have the answers."

Victory over second-bottom Lens would extend PSG's unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions, although they have collected just six points from a possible 12 in their last four league fixtures with draws against Lyon, Caen and Monaco slowing their momentum.

It would also send them to Chelsea on a high as they attempt to book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals after a 1-1 first leg draw on their own pitch on February 17.

Few onlookers would give this weekend's visitors any really chance of upsetting their big-spending hosts with Antoine Kombouare's men looking for a first win in 10 attempts in all competitions.

Their last eight Ligue 1 fixtures have yielded just three points and they are currently nine points adrift of safety with 11 games remaining.