Bastia vs Saint-Etienne preview - Galtier targets top-three finish

St Etienne coach Christophe Galtier hopes to upset the established order by securing a Champions League place.

Les Verts, fourth in Ligue 1, are just two points off a qualification place as they head to struggling Bastia this weekend.

With four games remaining Galtier has the third-placed super-rich Monaco in his sights, but the battle is a tough one. Marseille and Bordeaux, in fifth and sixth, are also still in the reckoning and the run-in could be tight.

Galtier told reporters: "If we finish third, it will annoy a lot of people because we are not the best team in the championship, nor who plays the best, nor who scores the most goals.

"It would also be a real achievement when we consider our budget, our course and where we come from.

"In front of us are a worthy opponent, a luxurious club with a European experience. Behind there is Marseille who I am sure will finish the season with a face other than the one they are currently showing and Bordeaux are also in the 'ambush'.

"With only four games until the end of the season, the podium is within our reach. We have 60 points and we will fight until the very end."

St Etienne travel to Bastia on an emotional weekend for the Corsican club, with the 23rd anniversary of the Stade Armand Cesar disaster coming up next week.

Galtier, as a former Bastia assistant coach, is well aware of the importance of the occasion.

He said: "We know what we want to pick up there compared to our ambitions of end of season and playing Bastia is always exciting.

"But we will play with the memory of this disaster. Having lived there, I know what the date of May 5 means in Corsica."

In terms of the action, for Bastia the focus is avoiding relegation.

Ghislain Printant's men beat Evian 2-1 last week to climb to 13th but they are still just three points above the relegation zone.

Printant said: "We have 40 points but nothing is done yet. It is a very tight league."