In many ways, week 12 of Ligue 1 was a preview for bigger things to come next week. With the showdown between PSG and Olympic Marseille next Sunday, the cards had to be shuffled and organized in such a way for one of the most important games in the 2014-2015 Ligue 1 season. With that said, there was still some good matches on tap this week.

• We begin week 12 with Marseille 2-1 victory over Lens on Sunday evening. Florian Thauvin netted home the game winning goal for Marseille to keep their 4 point lead over PSG intact going into Le Classique. Lens gave Marseille all they could handle, a worthy effort considering numerous youngsters were starting for Lens against the league leaders. Marseille looked shaky at the back, with Lens counter attacking and sometimes even controlling possession in Marseille’s final third. This was a noteworthy game if only because Alaixys Romao picked up two yellow cards in the match and will now miss the PSG match, joining both Jeremy Morel and Andre Ayew.
• PSG won 2-1 against Lorient away from home, a match which was a tell of two tales. The first half was all Lorient in a raucous Stade du Moustoir. The home side got the 1-0 advantage through a lovely pass from Jordan Ayew onto Raphael Guerreiro just before the stroke of halftime. It was domination from the home side, with a 13-2 shot advantage over PSG. The opposite was true in the 2nd half with PSG finding their footing through the brilliance of both Javier Pastore and Marco Verratti. Edinson Cavani netted another open play goal, a big thing for the forward’s psyche after all he’s been through this season.
• In the latest installment of the Derby Breton, home side Nantes and Rennes played to a 1-1 draw. The game was a rather tame affair for most if not all of the second half. The first half was quite action packed though most of the attack came from Nantes. The main talking point though from the game will be the disallowed goal on Rennes. You be the judge on whether it the ball did go out of bounds: https://t.co/idB557bOG7
• Lyon defeated Nice 3-1 through yet another scintillating performance from Alexander Lacazette. The two goals scored in the second half take him to 10 goals on the season (9 from open play) and keep Lyon in the top 3. Lacazette has blossomed this season and on form he’s clearly the best striker Ligue 1 has to offer.
• For the second straight time in less than a week, Bordeaux defeated Toulouse 2-1. Bordeaux now climb back onto 4th place in Ligue with that victory. Another disappointing performance for Toulouse, who under their 3-5-2 formation look more and more like a lover who’s trapped in a sexless marriage.
• Other scores: Monaco 1-1 Reims, Guingamp 1-0 Bastia, Lille 1-1 Saint Etienne, Montpellier 2-0 Evian Thonon Gaillard, Metz 3-2 Caen.

Next week is the latest installment of Le Classique, and well… That’s all I really need to say right? Also there’s Saint Etienne versus Monaco which precedes Le Classique next Sunday.