Fri Oct 26 11:09:43 2007

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Bordeaux, Valenciennes set for top-six tussle

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Bordeaux, France (Sports Network) - Bordeaux and Valenciennes will take to the pitch at Parc Lescure on Saturday separated by only one point, with both sides sitting in top-six positions.

However, both teams will be playing in places where they have had limited success this season.

Bordeaux has yet to lose in six away matches so far this campaign, but has dropped two contests in five in front of its home fans.

It's bizarre," Valenciennes defender David Sommeil told the club's website. "But there are seasons like that where certain teams are more at ease away from home."

Sommeil is a former Bordeaux player who will be making his first appearance at the ground since his departure, but while his side has had no such difficulties on home soil, they have really struggled on the road.

The team has earned just four points from five games away from home, but knows that a win on Saturday would push them into the top five and right in the middle of the race for European positioning.

One thing that could work in the favor of the visitors is that Bordeaux could be battling fatigue after their 2-1 win over Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. It will be a tough turnaround for Bordeaux, but defender Florian Marange thinks his team will use that result as a positive.

"It had been a while since our last victory," Marange told the club's website. "We absolutely had to win to regain our confidence and the UEFA victory will be a boost for Saturday."

In other Ligue 1 play on Saturday, second-place Nancy tries to stay on the heels of league-leaders Lyon with a win at Metz, Lille owns just two wins in 11 games and hosts Strasbourg, Lorient entertains Nice, Caen travels to Monaco, Marseille and Sochaux, two of the most disappointing teams in Ligue 1, meet up at Stade Bonal and Auxerre invades St Etienne.

On Sunday, top-five club Le Mans hosts Toulouse, surprising Rennes, which has risen to third in the league table, travels to Lens, and two of the biggest clubs in France face off when PSG hosts league-leaders Lyon.