Valenciennes Cling to Survival Hopes Ahead of Crucial Clash with Nantes
By BBC Sport
Valenciennes – April 18, 2014
Valenciennes face a critical five-match run-in as they bid to avoid relegation from Ligue 1, with a must-win encounter against Nantes looming this Sunday at the Stade du Hainaut.
With just 15 points remaining to play for this season, Valenciennes are six points adrift of safety. The northern French side sit firmly in the relegation zone, and head coach Ariel Jacobs knows only a near-perfect finish will keep their top-flight status intact.
The challenge begins with the visit of Nantes in Matchday 34, and there is a renewed sense of urgency in the Valenciennes camp.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Senegal international Saliou Ciss underlined the team’s belief that a survival push is still possible.
“Winning two, three or four matches in a row is difficult, but it is possible,” Ciss said in a message shared via the club’s official Twitter account. “It will be up to us to control the game and put pressure on Nantes to get the victory.”
The full-back’s comments reflect the fighting spirit within the squad, though recent form offers little encouragement. Valenciennes have struggled for consistency throughout the season and now find themselves in a situation where dropped points could spell the end of their time in Ligue 1.
With key fixtures ahead and the pressure mounting, manager Ariel Jacobs is expected to rally his players for a late-season surge. Victories in their remaining home games will be vital, and Sunday’s match offers a prime opportunity to claw back ground on their rivals.
Nantes, meanwhile, are not yet mathematically safe themselves, sitting in mid-table but still vulnerable if results go against them. The Canaries will be without right-back Issa Cissokho due to suspension, offering Valenciennes a potential advantage on the flanks.
The stakes are high for both sides, but the urgency is far greater for Valenciennes, who have just five matches to save their season.
Should they falter, a return to Ligue 2 just one year after narrowly avoiding the drop in the previous campaign could become a harsh reality.
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Follow BBC Sport for live updates from Valenciennes v Nantes on Sunday, and full post-match analysis.
