\n
PARIS (AP) \u2014 Lens captain Florian Sotka has appealed to fans to keep believing that his team can beat Paris Saint-Germain and win Ligue 1.<\/p>\n
Lens’ 3-2 home defeat to Monaco last weekend opened the door for defending champions PSG to return to the top of the table with a two-point lead.<\/p>\n
The manner of the defeat saw Lens concede three goals in 10 minutes and throw away a 2-0 lead, raising questions about whether Lens had what it takes.<\/p>\n
“I want to show that it was a moment,” Sotka said. \u201cWe are an ambitious team that dreams of going as far as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
As well as chasing a second French title, Reims will face Lyon in the French Cup quarter-finals next week.<\/p>\n
major matches <\/h2>\n
Lens travel to the Alsace region to face Strasbourg on Friday. Strasbourg are seventh and can still qualify for the Champions League with a late push, but Gary O’Neill’s side remain inconsistent.<\/p>\n
PSG face 13th-placed Le Havre on Saturday, but their manager Didier Degar seems to have little confidence.<\/p>\n
“We have to be realistic. We want to give them dreams and tell them that we will win,” said Digard, who played one season in PSG’s midfield. \u201cBut in reality, Paris is in a completely different world, even with injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n
after that 13 game winning streak record<\/span> After the games, 3rd place Lyon will face a tough match against 4th place Marseille on Sunday.<\/p>\nIf Marseille wins, the difference with Lyon will narrow to 2 points.<\/p>\n
Featured players<\/h2>\n
Striker Esteban Leport will look to increase his league goal tally to 12 when Rennes host Toulouse on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Ruport is one place ahead of Strasbourg’s Joaqu\u00edn Panichelli and two ahead of Marseille’s Mason Greenwood in the points ranking. However, he is comfortably the top scorer from open play due to the fact that he has not committed any penalties, compared to five for his two rivals.<\/p>\n
Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser will be in the spotlight after his poor performance in the second half last weekend, when a handling error led to Monaco’s equalizing goal.<\/p>\n
Doro Fernandes could feature again for PSG. The 18-year-old midfielder Joined from Barcelona<\/span>started in last weekend’s 3-0 win against Metz.<\/p>\nBrazil national team FW Endrick<\/span> He was in poor form against Strasbourg, so coach Paulo Fonseca will need him at his best against Marseille.<\/p>\nActivity suspended<\/h2>\n
Le Havre are without stout defender Loic Negot due to a calf injury.<\/p>\n
PSG are awaiting the recovery of Ousmane Dembele, who suffered a similar injury, while Lyon’s Argentina left-back Nicolas Tagliafico is recovering from an ankle sprain.<\/p>\n
off the field<\/h2>\n
Metz are bottom of the league and facing further relegation, so supporters have had enough. The club’s two main ultras groups, Jorda Hrenetic and Gruppa Metz, called for a protest march before Sunday’s home match against Brest.<\/p>\n
“Every season we experience the same scenario and there is no ambitious long-term sporting project to permanently establish the club in Ligue 1,” the two organizations said in a joint statement. \u201cMy fatigue is at its peak.\u201d ___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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