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Lille hopes to hold off Lyon for second place

Fri 14th, May 2010

Lorient, France (Sports Network) - With Marseille having already clinched the Ligue 1 title, most of the attention in France turns to the race for Champions League places on the final day of the season.

Lille is in position to grab second place, which carries with it an automatic berth in the Champions League, while Lyon sits only point back in third and would go into the qualification stage of the competition.

However, Auxerre looms just two points back of Lille in fourth, meaning that Rudi Garcia's men must beat Lorient on Saturday to ensure themselves of a place in the Champions League.

Lille has already secured a spot in the Europa League for next season, but Garcia is feeling confident about the fact that his team controls its own destiny for a spot in the Champions League.

"We know what we have to do in Lorient, irrespective of Lyon beating Monaco in midweek," Garcia said.

"We go there with motivation, in second place in the league and we will remain there if we win. Of course, qualification for the Europa League is secured, but we will not be satisfied since the Champions League remains open to us - we really want to participate in that competition. Destiny is in our hands."

Lille is in a good position based on the strength of a five-game winning streak that they will hope to extend to six games, while Lorient has taken five points from its last four games and is trying to hold onto seventh place.

Lyon faces relegated Le Mans and can secure third with a win, while Auxerre visits Sochaux needing a win and either Lyon or Lille to drop points.

Bordeaux visits Lens having won just two of its last nine games, Nancy hosts Valenciennes, Rennes travels to relegated Boulogne, champions Marseille host last-placed Grenoble, Nice entertains St Etienne, Montpellier invades PSG and Toulouse squares off with Monaco.