Bordeaux midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has played down the significance of Sunday's clash with Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

Les Girondins claimed last season's Ligue 1 crown after finishing six points ahead of closest challengers Marseille.

But Gourcuff believes it is too early in the season to class the weekend encounter as crucial to this year's title race.

"The game comes too soon for it to be a turning point," Gourcuff told www.ligue1.fr.

Gourcuff scored twice in last weekend's 4-0 thrashing of Nice as Bordeaux maintained their 100% start to the season after three rounds and extended their winning run in Ligue 1 to 14 games.

"We know that it'll come to an end one day. We're simply carrying on from where we left off last season, and we want to try and keep it going as long as possible," he added.

Bordeaux are two points clear of a trio of clubs, Lyon, Paris St Germain and Marseille.

Marseille, now under Didier Deschamps, have won two and drawn one following their 1-1 stalemate at Rennes and appear set for another strong season.

"Marseille have a very good side, and a coach that knows the highest level of the game very well. He has that experience, but so does our coach," he said.

"It's going to be a great game as they've had a good start to the season too.

"Their 1-1 draw at Rennes is a good result, because they achieved it against an excellent team."

Lyon, who relinquished their crown to Bordeaux last term, head into Saturday's game against Nancy buoyed by qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League in midweek after completing an 8-2 aggregate win against Anderlecht.

Coach Claude Puel was delighted with their 3-1 second-leg win in Brussels but ordered his players to concentrate on domestic matters.

He said: "Now we have to forget the Champions League and re-focus on the league with Nancy coming to Gerland on Saturday."

Paris St Germain will expect to pick up another three points at home to winless Lille while Sunday's other game sees Valenciennes visit Toulouse.

Lens, in sixth, host Rennes on Saturday, Auxerre go in search of their first point and first goal at newly-promoted Boulogne-sur-Mer and St Etienne and Grenoble, another two teams without a point, meet at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Le Mans go to Lorient, Nice host Montpellier and Sochaux meet Monaco.