Ligue 1, Nantes and Auxerre will try to avoid relegation, while there is a four-way race for a place in the European cups: news and predictions.
As Europe’s major leagues come to a close this weekend, Ligue 1 is also set to deliver its final verdicts: the game is on for Europe and salvation.
The most important of all came on the penultimate day: Psg, despite settling for a draw in the away match in Strasbourg, closed the games for the title once and for all, becoming French champions for the second consecutive season. That of the Parisians was, however, a celebration in a minor tone, since the balance of the season, despite winning the championship, is not satisfactory. Yesterday, coach Christophe Galtier announced Leo Messi’s farewell, now a foregone conclusion, but the captain of world champion Argentina may not be the only one to pack his bags. While waiting for a new revolution, Mbappé and his teammates should greet their public with a wide success against Clermont, a team that has been saved several weeks in advance and no longer has any objectives. Everything is also settled as far as Champions League placings are concerned: Lens is certain to be second, while Marseille will finish third, which means preliminaries.
Igor Tudor’s team – the Croatian coach has already said he will resign after the last match – will be on stage at the relegated Ajaccio: their victory should not be in question in a match with at least three goals in total. It is a different story for Lens, who will be the referee in the last round of Ligue 1 in an exciting race for safety.
Other match predictions
Franck Haise’s Giallorossi, who have already qualified directly for the next edition of the cup with the big ears, will take to the pitch at Auxerre, who are in the relegation race but are in control of their own destiny.
Caqueret
The Diplomats would be safe today thanks to two points more than fourth-last-placed Nantes but a draw against Lens might not be enough. In fact, the Canaries are likely to have an easy time against bottom-of-the-table Angers, who have been in Ligue 2 for a month or so, and can count on a better goal difference in the event of a draw. Against a tired Lens, Auxerre should at least avoid defeat, while the yellow-greens, with their backs to the wall, will in all likelihood break their victory drought by prevailing over the last in the standings. Everything also hangs in the balance in the race for minor Europe. Four teams, packed within just four points, are competing for two places. Lille 66, Rennes 65, Monaco 65 and Lyon 62: this is the current situation. Laurent Blanc’s Lyon is practically doomed. It must conquer a difficult pitch like Nice and hope for a defeat by Rennes, which is clearly ahead in goal difference.
Monaco, who have literally committed suicide in recent weeks, are not masters of their own destiny either. They have to beat Toulouse, but they have the worst goal difference compared to their three rivals. Bruno Genesio’s Rennes, who won the very important direct confrontation with Monaco a week ago and should have no problem imposing themselves on Brest, should go to Europe. Former Roma player Paulo Fonseca’s Lille also had an easy win against relegated Troyes.
Ligue 1: possible winners
- Monaco (in Monaco-Toulouse)
- Auxerre or draw (in Auxerre-Lens)
- Nantes (in Nantes-Angers)
- Lyon or draw (in Nice-Lyon)
- Rennes (in Brest-Rennes)
- Lille (in Troyes-Lille)
