11.   Auxerre is practically assured of the French league title with two matches to go and that would but the club in the Champions Cup.

12.   Auxerre will probably be the French league winner and play in the more prestigious Champions League next season.

13.   Auxerre has never won the French league championship although being in the top six the last seven seasons.

14.   Brazilian hit man Sonny Anderson and Argentine playmaker Marcelo Gallardo are among the new foreign recruits to the French league.

15.   Bierhoff was traded last summer by AC Milan to Monaco in the French league.

16.   But that sweet taste of victory turned sour when a team official was accused to trying to rig a French league match just before the Cup final.

17.   But the glory of that victory was taken off in the aftermath of the bribing scandal in the French league.

18.   But the glory of that victory was taken off in the aftermath of the bribing charges of a French league game just before the final.

19.   By coincidence, the same two clubs were to meet Friday night in an important French league match.

20.   By coincidence, the same two clubs meet Friday night in an important French league match.