Ligue 1 – Matchday 37
Undecided at all levels, the Ligue 1 version 2020-21 will be settled over the final two days. Fight for maintenance, race for the podium and the Europa League: FF takes stock of this end of the season.
Champions League: PSG is almost there, Monaco under pressure
Always in ambush to snatch the title in the event of defeat in Lille, PSG must also look behind him. With 76 points, the Parisians are only two lengths ahead of Monaco and three over OL. No room for error, therefore, but their favorable schedule (reception from Reims then travel to Brest) should allow them to validate this ticket for C1 without any problem. In third place, the Monegasques are still masters of their destiny with one point more than the Lyonnais. But the last two days promise to be difficult with duels between candidates for Europe: against Rennes this Sunday, then in Lens. Niko Kovac’s men will be under pressure until the end to pocket the last place for the Champions League. With a trip to Nîmes and the reception of Niçois who have nothing more to play, OL must take full advantage to take advantage of the slightest hitch in ASM.
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Europa League: advantage to OM
Installed in fifth place thanks to a better goal difference than Lens, OM have no margin. And given their end-of-season program, the Marseillais would be angry if they did not ensure their presence in the Europa League. After Angers this Sunday, it will be Metz the following weekend. It will take six points against opponents who are fighting for nothing. Fortunately for the Blood and Gold, 6th place will also offer a European ticket for the Europa League Conference. But nothing will be easy for them. After a trip to Bordeaux, Franck Haise’s men will have to cross swords with a Monaco in the absolute obligation to win. It promises to be hot. One point behind this duo, Rennes remains on the lookout. The Bretons will see more clearly their chances of European qualification after their trip to Monaco this Sunday. Watch out for Bruno Genesio’s men in case of success on the Rock. Because they will receive Nîmes to conclude their season and could take the opportunity to win the buzzer.
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Maintenance in Ligue 1: Nîmes hopes for a miracle, four teams for a dam
At the back of the pack, the suspense remains over the identity of the team that will directly support Dijon in Ligue 2 and that which will play the accession / relegation dam. With two small points behind Nantes, Nîmes can still hope to afford a wild card by placing a barrage. But the task promises to be very, very complicated for the Gardois when you look at their menu. Reception of OL, trip to Rennes: they will have to sign a miraculous end of the season to save themselves. Quite the opposite of the Nantes residents who find color in this final sprint and who could burn out the priority to those who precede them. With 37 points, the Canaries are within reach of Lorient and Strasbourg (38 points), but also of Bordeaux (39 points). Above all, they go to Dijon before hosting a freewheeling Montpellier. Maintenance never felt so close. Hake and Alsatians will have immense pressure on their shoulders this weekend. If Nantes is successful, one of the two clubs will be barred. Advantage Lorient which receives Metz when Strasbourg goes to Nice. And beware, because the last day will see the two formations oppose the Meinau in what could be a duel to the death. A notch higher, Bordeaux will have to take points against Lens or Reims to avoid a cataclysm.
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The full program of the last two days of Ligue 1
Matchday 37, Sunday May 16 at 9 p.m.
Bordeaux-Lens
Dijon-Nantes
Lille-Saint-Etienne
Lorient-Metz
Marseilles-Angers
Monaco-Rennes
Montpellier-Brest
Nice-Strasbourg
Nimes-Lyon
PSG-Reims
Matchday 38, Sunday 23 May at 9 p.m.
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Angers-Lille
Brest-PSG
Lens-Monaco
Lyon-Nice
Metz-Marseilles
Nantes-Montpellier
Reims-Bordeaux
Rennes-Nimes
Saint-Etienne-Dijon
Strasbourg-Lorient
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