10 May 2011
With a first French Ligue 1 title since 1954 in sight, Lille will be looking to at least retain their four-point advantage over nearest chasers Olympique Marseille in a full set of fixtures this midweek.
Les Dogues play away to Saint-Etienne on Tuesday evening and could dial up the pressure on OM with a win that would see them move seven points clear at the top. However, Lille will be without Ivorian attacker Gervinho and Belgian star Eden Hazard.
The northerners have played an expansive, attacking style all season, with Gervinho and Senegalese hit-man Moussa Sow proving to be one of the best strike pairings in Europe.
However, Lille are now prepared to play in a more conservative fashion as they edge closer to the title. “There are four games left and if we are to win them 1-0, I’m okay with it, no problem,” defender Mathieu Debuchy told reporters after his team beat Nancy 1-0 at the weekend. “Nobody will remember how we grabbed our points.”
Marseille, who suffered a 3-2 defeat at Olympique Lyon on the weekend, still believe they can haul in Lille and defend the league title they claimed last season.
“It is still doable, even if it is less than a week ago,” coach Didier Deschamps said ahead of his sides home game against Stade Brest on Wednesday evening. “I still believe we can do it.”
Lyon, who are hoping to steal second place (and an automatic UEFA Champions League qualifying position) off OM, are away to relegation-threatened Auxerre on Wednesday night, while PSG, who have the Europa League spot all but wrapped up, host Nancy on Tuesday.
Former Champions League finalists Monaco are just two points above the relegation zone and face a difficult away match against sixth-placed Sochaux, while Lens need to beat Bordeaux to keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation from the top flight.
French Ligue 1 midweek fixtures:
Tuesday, 10 May
PSG v Nancy
Saint-Etienne v Lille
Wednesday, 11 May
Auxerre v Olympique Lyon
Lens v Bordeaux
Montpellier v Lorient
Nice v Arles
Stade Rennes v Caen
Sochuax v Monaco
Toulouse v Valenciennes
Olympique Marseille v Brest
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