The Champions League qualification race has been completely revived in the past two days with six contenders for two places, even if OM took the break.
Marseille, 2nd (62 points, +22): a comfortable mattress but heavy to finish
Marseille achieved the good move of the 33rd day by overthrowing Nantes (3-2). A success that puts him six points ahead of the Rennes-Strasbourg-Monaco trio. But Jorge Sampaoli’s men have a lot to do in the final stretch with Lyon’s reception and two encounters against Rennes and Strasbourg to wrap up. All while demonstrating ambitions of victory in the Conference League with a limited workforce.
D34: moves to Reims
D35: receives Lyon
D36: moves to Lorient
D37: moves to Rennes
D38: receives Strasbourg
Rennes, 3rd (56 pts, +34): the fear of losing everything
Will Rennes lose it all, hailed by his most attacking game in the championship? The Bretons missed their two crucial encounters by losing to Monaco (2-3) and Strasbourg (2-1), two direct rivals. And the end of the season does not look easy with games against maintenance competitors (Lorient, Saint-Etienne) and a western derby against Nantes, a hated rival who will not hesitate to disrupt Rennes’ plans. Above all, there will be the reception of Marseille for a trip to Lille to finish.
D34: receives Lorient
D35: receives Saint-Etienne
D36: moves to Nantes
D37: receives Marseille
D38: moves to Lille
Strasbourg, 4th (56pts, +20): Racing wants final at Vélodrome
Strasbourg wants to end his brilliant season in apotheosis with a final game in Marseille. “We want to go to Marseille on the last day in front of 60,000 fans ablaze like an OM-PSG,” launched Dimitri Liénard, Wednesday. It’s a crazy time.” To reach this final, Racing will challenge Lille and PSG, two teams that may be less involved (Lille fell in the race for the podium, Paris was certainly crowned champion) before two matches against maintenance teams (Brest, Clermont).
D34: moves to Lille
D35: receives PSG
D36: goes to Brest
D37: receives Clermont
D38: moves to Marseille
Monaco, 5th (56 pts, +17): on the royal road
The big winner of the last two days is undoubtedly Monaco, which emerged victorious from the duels with direct competitors: Rennes (2-3) and Nice (1-0). Returning to Rennes, ASM benefits from a very affordable schedule with a possible final against Lens to finish. The Principality club has the momentum (four wins in a row) on its side and is used to managing this final sprint just like last season.
D34: moves to Saint-Etienne
D35: receives Angers
D36: moves to Lille
D37: receives Brest
D38: goes to Lens
Nice, 6th (54pts, +13): on the slippery slope
Nice is still in the game but has left feathers in the fray in recent weeks with a meager record: one win, two draws and three defeats. Despite this, the Gym is only two points behind the podium and benefits from a very affordable schedule.
D34: receives Troyes
D35: moves to Bordeaux
D36: receives Saint-Etienne
D37: receives Lille
D38: moves to Reims
Lens, 7th (53pts, +11): two jerks on the way to dreams
Three wins in a row (Nice, Lille, Montpellier) and Lens is back among the contenders for the podium, which is just three points away. Franck Haise’s men will challenge their ambitions at PSG, who will try to validate their title against Racing on Saturday. The poster of the last day (Monaco reception) certainly did not escape the Sang et Or who by then will have to finish the job against Nantes, Reims and Troyes.
D34: moves to Paris
D35: receives Nantes
D36: moves to Reims
D37: moves to Troyes
D38: receives Monaco
