PARIS (AFP) - After their French Cup humiliation to fifth division opposition extended the club's barren trophy run to 15 seasons, Marseille have no option but to end their league season in style and qualify for the Champions League.

The 1-0 reverse to Carquefou, an amateur side, was one of the biggest upsets in French Cup history and added insult to injury as it came just days after a UEFA Cup exit to Russia's St Petersburg.

With Sochaux the visitors to the Stade Velodrome on Saturday and requiring points in their relegation battle coach Eric Gerets is determined to stop the rot - sentiments echoed by his chairman.

"I think this elimination will hit us even harder than the UEFA Cup," said the Belgian.

"We played poorly. But there are nine matches left and I think sometimes you learn more from a defeat than a victory."

Marseille chairman Pape Diouf indicated he had learned something he didn't like at all.

Namely, that the hunger was missing.

"Had we been sufficiently up for it we would have qualified," Diouf told reporters acidly.

Marseille are currently fourth, three points behind third-placed Nancy.

Given an improbable nine-point gap on second-placed Bordeaux Marseille can only realistically hope of taking third spot, which at least would be enough to secure a place in the Champions League qualifiers.

On a brighter note for Marseille their striker Mathieu Valbuena won a place for the first time in France coach Raymond Domenech's squad for full and A internationals against England and Mali next week.

Nancy will seek to keep Marseille at arm's length with a home win Saturday against rock-bottom local rivals Metz, who if all but down can console themselves with the fact that they are still in the Cup.

By Saturday night, Lyon's lead at the top may be only three points if Bordeaux can win at midtable Valenciennes.

But Lyon, who could welcome back striker Cris from suspension and fellow Brazilian Juninho from injury, would expect to move six clear again Sunday with a home win over a Paris St Germain side fighting for survival, outside the drop zone only on goal difference.

PSG edged past Bastia to stay in the Cup and also have a league cup final to look forward to but, in the league, Paul Le Guen's side have been woeful.

The capital club sent out some of the reserves for the Bastia game and they acquitted themselves well.

In other games, Jean-Pierre Papin, who was a key member of the Marseille side which dominated the early 1990s but who now coaches fifth-bottom Lens, will hope for a win Saturday at Rennes to widen the two point gap with PSG while Nice will attempt to snatch fourth spot with a win over Lorient.

Monaco visit Caen and Auxerre host St Etienne with none of the quartet quite safe as yet, while Strasbourg need something from a home game with Lille to stay clear of the drop zone and Le Mans will press their UEFA Cup claims against second-bottom Toulouse.

Fixtures

Saturday

Nancy v Metz, Auxerre v St Etienne, Caen v Monaco, Marseille v Sochaux, Nice v Lorient, Strasbourg v Lille, Toulouse v Le Mans, Valenciennes v Bordeaux

Sunday

Rennes v Lens, Lyon v Paris St Germain