Champions League, European places, fight to maintain… The challenges of the last three days of the championship

Three days before the end of the 2023-2024 Ligue 1 season, the battle promises to be close at the top and bottom of the rankings.

Paris Saint-Germain crowned once again, Sunday April 28, after Monaco’s defeat against Lyon, everything is not yet decided in the French football championship. Three days before the end of the 2023-2024 Ligue 1 season, the fight continues for places in the various European competitions and at the bottom of the standings in the relegation zone. It’s very simple, apart from PSG, the 17 other teams have something to play at the end of the season. Franceinfo: sport gives you an overview of the different issues.

Champions League: four contenders for two places

After PSG’s coronation, two of the three direct qualifying places for the Champions League group stages remain to be taken. And no less than four clubs covet them: Monaco, Brest, Lille and Nice, the current 2nd to 5th in Ligue 1. With seven points difference between Monaco and Nice, but above all only three between Monaco and Lille, the suspense risks last. And the Lille-Nice meeting, at the end of the championship, could be decisive.

After their defeat against Lyon on Sunday, which followed eight games without defeat, the Monegasques are assured, like the Brestois, of playing in a European Cup. But which ? Monaco’s schedule spares it a little, with confrontations against Clermont (18th), Montpellier (12th) and Nantes (14th). Brest residents also benefit from advantageous programming. The Niçois will have to repeat their September feat against PSG on May 15 to stay in the race for the Champions League.

Open race for European places

Beyond the first three places in Ligue 1 which offer direct qualification for the group stages of the Champions League, 4th place is synonymous with the preliminary rounds of this same competition. 5th place opens the doors to the Europa League, while 6th delivers a ticket to the Europa Conference League. In total, ten clubs are in the race to win one of the five European places still at stake: from Monaco, second, to Reims, eleventh.

Toulouse and Reims, respectively 10th and 11th in Ligue 1 with 40 points, still have a tiny chance, but they will have almost no room for error. The Lyonnais (8th with 44 points) are still in the running to finish European, which seemed unimaginable at the beginning of December when Pierre Sage took over the team then last in the championship. With only one victory in six games, the Lensois find themselves in a negative dynamic. After their defeat against their Marseille rival, the Sang et Or will have to get out of tricky matches, facing Lorient who are playing for their survival, and Rennais in search of a European place.

Relegation: seven clubs still in danger

Currently last in Ligue 1, with only five victories on the clock and 25 points, Clermont can still mathematically maintain its place in the elite. But the game promises to be tough with a trip to Monaco (current runner-up to PSG) and the reception of neighbor Lyon, before a final duel against a direct competitor in the race to maintain: Lorient (17th, 26 points). The schedule will also be tough for the Merlus with trips to Bollaert and the Vélodrome.

In total, seven formations are still in danger. Currently 12th, Montpellier (37 points) still only has one foot in Ligue 1 next season. By winning in Toulouse on Friday, the Héraultais would definitively validate their ticket. As a reminder, the 17th and 18th will be automatically relegated to Ligue 2, while the 16th will have a chance of remaining by facing, in a play-off, the winner of the Ligue 2 play-offs.