last of Kylian Mbappé at the Park, race for Europe, fight to maintain… The challenges of the 33rd and penultimate day

The traditional Sunday multiplex will be preceded by the meetings in Brest and Nice on Friday evening.

The final sprint is underway. The 33rd day of Ligue 1 will kick off on Friday May 10, with Brest-Reims and Nice-Le Havre (9:00 p.m.). Two posters brought forward by 48 hours compared to the classic multiplex on Sunday evening to provide sufficient rest time for the Aiglons and the Champenois, impacted by the postponed matches of recent weeks.

Initially scheduled for last weekend, their duels against PSG and OM will finally be held on Wednesday, before the final day. The idea of ​​the League was therefore to give them a small compensation, after having preserved the European clubs between the two legs of their respective semi-finals of the Champions League and Europa League.

PSG: last dance for Mbappé at the Parc des Princes

Kylian Mbappé’s farewell to the Parc des Princes could have been magnificent on Sunday, but his failed double confrontation against Dortmund risks still being in the minds of all supporters. At the end of his contract in June, and eager to fly to other horizons as he announced to his management three months ago, the top scorer in the club’s history (255 goals) will close a chapter seven years in the capital against Toulouse. A match without sporting issues for PSG, already crowned in Ligue 1.

There will still be a trophy to collect at the end of the season with the Coupe de France final against Lyon, but the Parisian number 7 already seems to have missed his exit. It remains to be seen what reception the Park will give him. Will he be honored by the club’s management, even though he has not yet made an official announcement on his departure? Will he even be lined up by Luis Enrique, now used to putting him on the bench when the meeting is not decisive? Last year, Lionel Messi was whistled for his last. Proof that part of the legacy of the 2018 world champion in Paris is at stake this weekend.

C1: Monaco hits the mark, Brest resists Lille, Nice aims for the top 4

With six points ahead of fourth place, Monaco is almost certain to finish on the podium and join the new single group of C1 without any problems. Despite its draw against Nantes last Saturday (0-0), Stade Brestois is still in a favorable position to obtain the last direct ticket, because Lille missed the opportunity to pass them by losing at the very end of the match against Lyon on Monday (3-4).

Opposed to Reims, from where Will Still was unloaded and who no longer plays anything, the Bretons can offer themselves a break in advance on Friday and put pressure on Losc. Only problem, the Pirates’ playing masters, Pierre Lees-Melou and Romain Del Castillo, could be out, injured in the last match. For their part, Paulo Fonseca’s players travel to La Beaujoire on Sunday with a virtual obligation to win to avoid any unpleasant surprises, while Nice pushes behind. Fifth with four points behind but one game less, the Aiglons are on the lookout for a thrilling end to the season.

C3/C4: a capital Lens-Rennes, Lyon and Marseille in ambush

It is a four-way match which is organized to win sixth and possibly seventh place, which would become a qualifier for the Europa Conference League in the event of PSG’s victory in the Coupe de France. Relaunched by its victory against Lorient last weekend, Lens is very close to securing its place in the top 6. But the Artésiens’ trip to Rennes could restart everything in the event of a defeat.

Such a scenario would be likely to benefit Lyon, which will be on the ground of the red lantern in Clermont. With three victories against Brest, Monaco and Lille, the dynamic seems to be on the side of Les Gones, still last six months ago. But there remains an unknown factor: how Marseille – guaranteed at least to be seventh with a full card – will it manage to string together its three matches of the week, after its elimination in the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday? Start of response on Sunday with the Lorient reception.

Relegation: Nantes, Le Havre and Metz for direct maintenance, Lorient and Clermont await a miracle

Before the last two days, five clubs are still involved in the fight for maintenance. The point gleaned in Brest has almost ensured that Nantes will remain in the elite, since they are four points ahead of Metz, the current play-off. Le Havre carried out the good operation of the last day by beating Strasbourg (3-1) and can therefore approach the home straight, in this case a Nice-OM sequence, with a little more serenity than the Lorraines, three points lower.

Beaten in added time by Rennes at home, the Garnets made their task more complicated even though the schedule spared them nothing until the end. Between the derby on Sunday in Strasbourg, which will not hesitate to send its rival to Ligue 2, and a reception from PSG to close the 2023-2024 financial year, FC Metz will have to pull out all the stops. Fortunately for them, their X factor Georges Mikautadze had his incomprehensible red card removed from the last match and will be available in Alsace.

In the event of a double misstep, FC Metz could nevertheless see an unexpected return from Lorient. With seven defeats in their last eight matches, the Merlus are in bad shape before going to Marseille, but their salvation could come from their “final” against Clermont on the 34th day. For its part, the Auvergne club must hope for a miracle to avoid being relegated.