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Paris St Germain defender Maxwell has admitted it would be failure if the club did not overhaul Montpellier to win the Ligue 1 title.

PSG head for struggling Auxerre on Sunday trailing the current leaders by three points following their 3-1 win at Marseille on Wednesday evening.

But with both clubs having seven games left to play, the 30-year-old Spaniard is hopeful that the deficit can be clawed back.

Asked if missing out on the title would represent failure for the big-spending Parisians, Maxwell told the club's official website, www.psg.fr: "Of course, because we have a responsibility to win.

"The club, the supporters and the players need this, so of course it would be a disappointment to not meet the challenge because we are, above all, competitors.

"PSG are a club on the move, looking for our playing identity, but we are calm and confident. We are working very hard so that it all works out."

By contrast, bottom-of-the-table Auxerre are fighting to retain their place in France's top flight and as a result, Maxwell is expecting nothing other than a battle at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps.

He said: "It's never easy to play against a side fighting for their place in the elite.

"It will be intense, but each day we work 100% and we are used to playing away against teams that want to beat us.

"But we are not scared, we are heading there with the aim of getting all three points that will be precious in the race for the title."

Auxerre defender Stephane Grichting has promised PSG they will certainly not have things all their own way as the basement boys attempt to close a three-point gap on second-bottom Sochaux.

He told the club's official website, www.aja.fr: "There is envy, personal investment, a desire to get us out of the relegation zone. We will not give up.

"On Sunday, we will play against Paris, a team we all know really well, and we know all their players.

"We must face them without fear, even if we have the knife to our throat. We are all aware that we must raise our game as we did against Lyon, but we must also avoid making mistakes that make it easy for the opponent.

"Lately, we have often felt that fate was not favourable. We must tip the scales in our favour."

Jeremy Berthod remains sidelined for the hosts, but hopes to return against Nice next time out.