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The suspense remains intact. Apart from PSG, already crowned champion of France, many teams still have to fight to achieve their goals, on Saturday May 21, during the 38th and last matchday of Ligue 1. As tradition dictates, all kick-offs will be given simultaneously at 9:00 p.m.
Monaco, Marseille and Rennes are fighting at a distance to take second place and qualify directly for the Champions League. Furthermore, Strasbourg, Nice and Lens can still claim fourth and fifth places, qualified for the Europa League (C3) and the Europa League conference (C4). On the other side of the table, a miraculous scenario is needed for Bordeaux to stay in the top flight. Here are all the themes that should animate the last day of the championship.
Champions League: Monaco must make sure, Marseille crosses fingers
Brilliant form, top scorer in the match, opponent within reach… All the lights are on for Monaco to retain second place at the end of this 38th matchday. The Blue and Whites travel to Lens, where a victory should be enough to overtake their rival from Marseille, tied for third on points but with a fairly unfavorable goal difference (-4 compared to ASM).
Facing Strasbourg at the Vélodrome, the Marseilles would do well to triumph in an offensive festival. In the event of a Monegasque defeat, on the other hand, a tie will suffice for Jorge Sampaoli’s men to return to second place (the same in the event of a victory against the Alsatians and Monaco’s tie).
Note that if OM and ASM are perfectly equal (points and goal difference), the item 518b de The Ligue 1 regulations state that “the clubs will be decided by goal difference in the matches they play against each otherSo OM, having won 2-0 in the first leg and then lost 1-0 in the second lege in Monaco, he would get second place in extremis.
European Cups: Strasbourg, Nice and Lens want to believe it
European places are hotly contested. With 65 points and 4th place, Rennes can still qualify for the Champions League thanks to their much higher goal difference than Monaco and Marseille. In the event of victory in Lille, Bruno Genesio’s players will secure at least a place in C3 for the second consecutive season.
RV’s drawing after the defeat of Stade Rennes in Nantes (2-1) on Wednesday night pic.twitter.com/TClrHARD2S
— Rennais Stadium online (@S_R_Online) May 13, 2022
However, a defeat in the North could mean a simple qualification for the Europa League conference, and even a complete absence of European competition for the Bretons. Strasbourg (5th in the championship, two points behind Rennes) are still on the prowl and will want to surprise the Marseilles to crown their beautiful championship by playing in Europe next season, the first in sixteen years.
For their part, Nice (6th, tied on points with Strasbourg) and Lens (7th, 61 points), for now excluded from European places, can still believe in a reversal of the situation. The Aiglons, who go to Reims, must win by a river score to be sure of overtaking Strasbourg. The Sang et Or (against Monaco) no longer have their destiny in their hands, although they have an obligation to win.
Maintenance: mission almost impossible for Bordeaux, Saint-Etienne and Metz to tremble
The mass is said 99% for Bordeaux, condemned to an immense feat during this last day. To stay in the elite, Girondins (20th with 28 points) must beat Brest with a flurry of goals, while Metz, in the play-offs (31 points), who face PSG, earn a great deal at the same time. figure. Saint-Etienne (19th, 31 points) will also have to lose against Nantes. Therefore, this is not the time for optimism in the Southwest. At a press conference on Thursday, Bordeaux coach David Guion already considers“apprehend” League 2.
HAS equal points, Metz and Saint-Etienne will have to forget about the fear of emptiness to win the tiebreaker place. In the event of victory, the Messins will certainly retain their play-off place, unless the Greens crush the Canaries.
Top scorer: Mbappé or Ben Yedder?
The race for top scorer will also be played on the line. Barring a big twist on Saturday, the crown will fall on the head of either Kylian Mbappé or Wissam Ben Yedder. The star striker of Paris Saint-Germain jumps to 25 goals, one unit ahead of the Monegasque.
In this duel “goalers”, Mbappé seems to have the advantage. On matchday 38, the 2018 world champion and his family take on Metz, 17th defense in Ligue 1. The task could be a bit more difficult for Ben Yedder at Bollaert. Author of a hat-trick on matchday 37 against Brest (4-2), he nevertheless showed his great form.