Pirate Galaxy » midfielder Thiago Motta -- one of PSGs

McLaren are preparing for a tough season-opening weekend in Melbourne and arrive with a number of unknowns, according to racing director Eric Boullier. Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso completed a combined 780 laps over two weeks in Barcelona but the Honda-powered team failed to complete their full pre-season testing programme.McLaren are set to trial their 2016 package in Fridays practice at the Australian GP, and Boullier said: Its been a very long winter, and I know that I can speak on behalf of the whole McLaren-Honda team when I say that we cant wait to go racing again! We are certainly a step ahead of where we were this time last year in terms of preparation. That said, we didnt manage to complete our final configuration and set-up work for the first race, so we go to Melbourne with a number of unknowns. It wont be an easy start to the weekend in that sense, since well need to concentrate on setting the car up for each session and readying the final specification of our package as soon as we get to Albert Park.The results of the MP4-31 from testing seem to point at improved reliability, but it still remains to be seen where McLaren will find themselves in the pecking order.The team endured their worst season in 30 years in 2015 and finished the second pre-season test with a time which was two seconds adrift of Ferraris leading pace. Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here. Alonso has vowed not to make any predictions for the first race at Albert Park while Button is hoping to see the new rules for the 2016 season help produce more unpredictable results.This is the first chance for us to compare ourselves on similar set-ups, Button said. Weve been concentrating heavily on our own development and processes, so Im looking forward to seeing where we are on a level playing field. Melbourne will certainly be a challenge, but our package definitely feels like a step forward from last year. There are so many more variables this year - new qualifying format, new tyre regulations, and Australia usually produces unpredictable races, so anything could happen!The first race of the 2016 F1 season, the Australian GP, is exclusively live on Sky Sports F1. The race in Melbourne starts at 5am on Sunday March 20. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: The Formula 1 gossip column Every race live in 2016: Get Sky F1 Swell Wood Water Bottle . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Swell Water Bottle Wholesale . 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MARSEILLE, France -- The pressure is sharply increasing on Paris Saint-Germain and its coach, Unai Emery, heading into Sundays showdown with French league leader Nice.With Nice already four points ahead, a defeat would further weaken Emerys position.Key players are out of form, the defense is leaking goals, and Emery is struggling to impose his workmanlike methods after joining from Spanish side Sevilla.A 3-0 loss away to Montpellier last weekend was followed by a dismal 2-2 home draw against Ludogorets in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with PSG coming from behind twice to salvage a draw against one of Europes least heralded sides.Hardly the form expected of a side hoping to conquer Europe, having dominated French football for the past two seasons under former coach Laurent Blanc, who was fired in late June.Nice also changed coaches in the summer, but for different reasons and with a hugely positive effect.Swiss coach Lucien Favre replaced Claude Puel, who moved to Premier League club Southampton after finishing in a credible fourth place.Nices defense is well balanced, while its slick midfield of Younes Belhanda, Jean Michael Seri and Wylan Cyprien oozes classy passing.Favre has also relaunched the career of striker Mario Balotelli, following his two dismal seasons with Liverpool and AC Milan, and given talented young striker Alassane Plea the chance to shine.The quick, skillful Plea has nine league goals so far, while Balotelli has six in six games.The powerful Italian forward earned a reputation for his controversial behavior on and off the field, notably when he let off fireworks in his home when he played for Manchester City. But Balotelli has kept his head lately and a good performance against PSG would strengthen his comeback.Favre has gained glowing reviews for adapting quicklyy to the French league after six seasons with German club Borussia Moenchengladbach.ddddddddddddBy contrast, the media is coming down hard on Emery.Following the Ludogorets match, in which PSG needed an injury-time equalizer to draw, sports daily LEquipes headline of Appalling summed up the general view.The manner in which PSG conceded goals against Ludogorets and Montpellier was alarming.The Brazilian central defensive pairing of Olympic champion Marquinhos and former Brazil captain Thiago Silva is not working well, with Silva taking on too much responsibility compensating for very basic errors from Marquinhos in terms of marking and concentration.Lynchpin midfielder Thiago Motta -- one of PSGs best players over the past three seasons -- is making unusually sloppy mistakes. The 34-year-old Italy international looks increasingly leg weary.PSG has already lost three league games this season, one more than last term.Despite guiding the club to a second straight domestic treble and winning Ligue 1 by a staggering 31 points, Blanc was fired for failing to get beyond the quarterfinals of the Champions League once again.Emery was chosen by the clubs cash-rich and ambitious Qatari owners because of his three straight Europa League titles with Sevilla.The Spanish coachs Sevilla side was based on intense fitness levels and speedy counterattacking, whereas Blanc favored a more technical, possession-based approach.The transition is proving complex and the only PSG player standing out is Edinson Cavani, with 14 league goals and six in Europe.But that is because Cavani is finally playing in his favored position following Zlatan Ibrahimovics departure, rather than Emerys methods. ' ' '