French pair make Champions League
 |  Dumont (center) scored Lille's first goal in the win at Nantes |
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PARIS, France -- Lille and Monaco secured Champions League places after clearcut victories on Saturday.
Lille ran out 3-1 winners at Nantes while Monaco trounced Bastia 5-2.
With Olympique Marseille held to a goalless draw at AJ Auxerre, Lille and Monaco opened an unassailable gap over the fourth-placed side with two games remaining.
The only issue to be decided is which of the pair will join French champions Olympique Lyon in the group stage and who will have to play in the competition's final qualifying round.
Lille are the favorites to finish runners-up and qualify directly for the group stage since they have 64 points and a three-point lead over third-placed Monaco.
"It's highly deserved after what we've achieved since the start of the season," Lille coach Claude Puel told reporters. "We're certain to be third. We're now going to chase for the second place."
Lyon, who claimed their fourth consecutive title last Sunday, have an eight-point lead over Lille ahead of their weekend game at home to Girondins Bordeaux on Sunday.
Lille claimed their fifth victory in six matches as they won at Nantes to stay clear of Monaco, who survived an early scare at their Stade Louis-II before thrashing Bastia thanks to a Javier Ernesto Chevanton first-half hat trick.
Argentine Javier Saviola and Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor completed the rout after the interval.
Midfielder Stephane Dumont opened the scoring for Lille in the first half before defender Rafael Schmitz and substitute Mathieu Debuchy scored with second-half headers.
Nantes, who have never been relegated, are now just one point above the drop zone.
Pedretti off
Marseille, who had Benoit Pedretti sent off in the 83rd minute have 54 points and will now have to fight for fourth place and the accompanying UEFA Cup spot.
They have a two-point lead over fifth-placed French Cup finalists AJ Auxerre who are level on 52 points with Stades Rennes after the Britanny side lost 5-2 at RC Lens.
Caen earned their second victory in a row since coach Franck Dumas took over from Patrick Remy as they beat St Etienne 2-0 to move above Bastia into 18th place with 39 points.
AC Ajaccio are 17th in the 20-team standings, also on 39 points, after they lost 1-0 at home to Nice.
Two injury-time goals by defenders Sylvain Armand and Mario Yepes earned mid-table Paris St Germain a 2-2 draw at home to Sochaux.
Troyes promoted
Troyes gained the third promotion spot to Ligue 1 when they beat Cup finalists Sedan 2-1.
They will join Nancy and Le Mans in the top flight.
Istres have already been relegated but took maximum points from their home game with Toulouse, Azzeddine Ourahou scoring the only goal 11 minutes from the end.
