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  • Saturday 13 February 2010

    Ligue 1 round 23

    Monaco v Marseille
    Valenciennes v Nice
    Le Mans v Sochaux
    Nancy v PSG
    Montpellier v Grenoble
    Lille v Boulogne
    Lyon v Lens
    Auxerre v Rennes
    Lorient v Toulouse
    Bordeaux v St Etienne

    One thing is certain: Bordeaux will still be top at the end of this round of fixtures. Whether it's on points or goal difference is the only thing open to question. Montpellier are three points behind the champions, but a massive 13 worse off on goal difference, so unless they stick ten past Grenoble this week, Bordeaux will still be top. A few weeks ago, you could envisage a situation where that could happen, but Grenoble were 5-0 winners a week ago and if that doesn't spark a turnaround in form, then nothing will. Even so, Montpellier will start favourites. Bordeaux also face an improved team from the lower reaches of the league; St Etienne. Les Verts pulled to seven clear of the drop zone thanks to last week's 3-0 win over Monaco and are no longer the easy-beats Bordeaux could have expected to face.

    Lyon, Marseille (still with that game in hand against Sochaux to come), Lille, Monaco and Auxerre are still all squabbling over third and they were joined by Rennes after their victory a week ago. Something has to give this week as Monaco and Marseille face off in the Principality and Rennes go to Auxerre, AJA being the side beaten so heavily by Grenoble last time out. Lille are at home to Boulogne who are now officially the worst side in the country and Lyon have a visit from Lens.

    Le Mans are still in deep trouble and face Sochaux, but it's PSG who are in the deepest mess of all, everything being relevant. They go to Nancy two points behind their hosts. Nice are still in trouble too and face fast fading Valenciennes and the winner of the Lorient v Toulouse clash will suddenly be right back in the European chase, joining that clutch of clubs vying for third. The loser can just about forget it.

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