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Two teams with much different objectives in Ligue

Fri 18th, May 2007

Lens, France (Sports Network) - When Lens hosts Nice on Saturday at Stade Felix Bollaert, both teams will be looking to grab a big win with two weeks to play, but for much different reasons.

The home side is currently in third place in the league, two points behind second-placed Marseille and level on points with fourth-placed Bordeaux. Only a slight edge in goal differential is keeping Lens in position for the third and final Champions League spot, so points are critical this time of year. Nice, meanwhile, would like to pick up the maximum points to enure its place in Ligue 1 next season. With a five-point cushion on Troyes and just two games left, staying in the top-flight is looking good, but making it official will be the goal on Saturday. Even if Nice is to drop all three points to Lens, they can still secure safety if Troyes fail to win at PSG. Nice manager Frederic Antonetti will bring his team into the game without the services of Cyril Rool and striker Lilian Laslandes, who are both suffering from thigh injuries. Antonetti will get a boost along the back line with the return of defender Cedric Kante from suspension. Lens will also get a defender back from suspension as Yohan Demont returns to the team, but fellow defender Milan Bisevac is still out with a groin injury. In other Ligue 1 play on Saturday, Nancy hosts top-five club Sochaux, Lille takes on Auxerre and Bordeaux continues its Champions League chase at Le Mans. League-champions Lyon invade Monaco, Toulouse tries to keep its UEFA Cup hopes alive with a trip to relegation-bound Nantes, Lorient takes on Rennes, Valenciennes travels to Sedan and second-placed Marseille meets up with St Etienne.