Four teams have shot at French league lead

PARIS (AP) — Four teams will have a shot at clinching the unofficial title of winter champion awarded at the season's halfway stage in the French league on Wednesday.

Montpellier leads the league on goal difference, level on 37 points with Paris Saint-Germain, and two points clear of defending champion Lille and Lyon.

In the past four seasons, two winter champions went on to clinch the league title.

Big-spending PSG drew with Lille in a scoreless match Sunday and will visit Saint-Etienne.

PSG coach Antoine Kombouare was happy with his team's defensive performance.

"It's a lot better," Kombouare said. "They are much more disciplined and show much more solidarity in their defensive efforts."

"Now we must keep what helps us make the difference — the ability to quickly break forward — and rediscover our offensive efficiency."

PSG had the league's top defense when it held top spot from the end of September to mid-November. It will look to keep a third straight clean sheet in the league at Stade Geoffroy Guichard.

Saint-Etienne has climbed to fifth place by earning four wins and two draws in its last six matches. It finished in 10th place last season.

"We'll try to do better than last season," Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier said. "The quality of the squad is greater. They get along well and share a strong bond despite the competition within the squad."

The quick integration of summer signings has contributed to the club's good run. Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Romania midfielder Banel Nicolita and Ivory Coast international Max Gradel have already combined for eight goals.

Meanwhile, Lille extended its unbeaten run in the league to 16 games by drawing with PSG.

"A point in Paris against the favorite for the league title can't be a bad point," Lille coach Rudi Garcia said. "But this point will be valuable only if we're able to win at home against Nice on Wednesday."

Lille has remained a strong contender despite the departures this summer of such key players as Gervinho, Yohan Cabaye, Emerson and Adil Rami.

"Getting a Champions League spot is the main goal," Lille midfielder Eden Hazard told Canal Plus television. "But we'll also try to retain our title."

Nice sits in 18th place and will miss fullback Fabian Monzon through suspension.

"The match against Lille will be very complicated," Nice goalkeeper David Ospina told the club's website. "We'll do anything to get a good result and finish the first half of the season by moving out of the relegation zone."

Marseille hopes to finish the year on a high at Nancy on Tuesday.

Marseille has 28 points after 18 rounds , matching last season's form. But it is in eighth place instead of fifth and will need a strong effort after the winter break to get back in the race for a Champions League spot.

"The difference with last year is that there are more teams ahead of us," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps told the club's website. "Because of the gap (with the leading teams), we must string together victories and we will need many to get closer."

Also on Wednesday, it's: Auxerre vs. Dijon; Evian vs. Montpellier; Lorient vs. Caen; Rennes vs. Bordeaux; Sochaux vs. Ajaccio; Toulouse vs. Brest; and Valenciennes vs. Lyon.

After the midweek games, the league will begin a winter break of three and a half weeks. The French league resumes on Jan. 14.