A vital weekend at both ends of the Ligue 1 table will see Champions League hopefuls Monaco travel to relegation-threatened Lens on Sunday afternoon.
Although the hosts look to be edging closer to relegation, Monaco still have plenty play for as they look to book their place in Europe's elite club competition.
Lens
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It has felt inevitable for some time that Lens would be losing their Ligue 1 status this season, and a disappointing run of results in recent weeks has edged them to the brink of relegation.
Since lifting spirits with a 1-0 victory over Toulouse in the middle of March, Lens have lost three and drawn one of their four league games and they could be relegated this weekend if results go against them.
If Evian beat Bastia on Saturday and Lens slip to another defeat, Antoine Kombouare will be forced to accept that his side will be playing in the second tier of French football next season.
Losing key players is certain to be a huge concern for the club's hierarchy when the transfer window reopens in the summer, and performances over the next few weeks could decide who remains part of Kombouare's plans.
Relegation may be an inevitability, but the pressure is on Lens to restore some pride in the closing stages of the campaign as they prepare for three tough games against Monaco, Lille and Montpellier.
Recent form: LWLLDL
Monaco
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A disappointing week of results for Monaco has put the pressure on Leonardo Jardim as he looks to rally the players for one final late-season push in a campaign which has produced many highs and lows.
It was Champions League heartache in midweek as a goalless draw in the second leg of their quarter-final with Juventus sent the Italian side through to the last four, but the focus now turns to ensuring that they will be in the competition next season.
With five league games remaining Monaco are in control of their own destiny thanks to a two-point advantage over Marseille, whose struggles to find consistency late in the season opened the door to Jardim's players.
Jardim will rightly be delighted that his side have managed to leapfrog Marseille, but draws with Montpellier and Rennes in recent weeks could come back to haunt them should they fail to clinch third spot.
However, a trip to a struggling Lens side could be an opportunity to boost morale once again, and Monaco should take confidence from their away record after winning seven of their last eight games on the road.
The trip to Marseille in a fortnight is already stealing the focus, but Jardim will be fully aware that nothing less than six points against Lens and Toulouse in the next two weeks will be acceptable.
Recent form: WWDDWD
Recent form (all competitions): DDWLDD
Team News
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Anthony Martial started ahead of Dimitar Berbatov in attack against Juventus, but Jardim is likely to hand a recall to the Bulgarian this weekend.
Captain Jeremy Toulalan returned in midweek before coming off at half time, and he should start in midfield alongside Geoffrey Kondogbia once again.
Lens are expected to still be without Pierrick Valdivia due to injury, but Adamo Coulibaly and Yoann Touzghar are set to be given another chance together up front.
Lens possible starting lineup:
Riou, Kantari, Landre, Boulenger, Gbamen, Le Moigne, Nomenjanahary, Cyprien, Chavarria, Coulibaly, Tzoughar
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Subasic, Fabinho, Abdennour, Raggi, Kurzawa, Toulalan, Kondogbia, Silva, Moutinho, Carrasco, Berbatov
Head To Head
Goals from Berbatov and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco earned Monaco a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture back in December after Wallace had been sent off in the first half.
Monaco have won the last four Ligue 1 meetings between the two sides, scoring 14 goals and conceding just once during that stretch, and Lens are bidding to beat them for the first time since February 2010.
We say: Lens 0-2 Monaco
Lens could seal their own fate if they fail to produce any resistance at the weekend, and Monaco will be desperate to get back on track after their disappointment in the Champions League. Jardim's side should have enough to record a comfortable win.
Callum Mulvihill
