Paris has done the job, but will still have to wait before winning its 10th title of champion of France. Large winners in Angers (3-0) the Parisians came a little closer to the coronation, Wednesday April 20, on behalf of the 33rd day of Ligue 1. But the forceps victory of Marseille against Nantes at the Vélodrome (3- 2) delays the mathematical coronation of the men of Mauricio Pochettino.
In the other meetings, the multiplex has reshuffled the cards in the race for Europe. The big blow of the evening is for Strasbourg, winner at home of Rennes (2-1), who joins his opponent of the evening with 56 points. Lens, which won against Montpellier after a solid match (2-0), consolidates its 7th place. The regrets will be for Lyon. Beaten in Brest (2-1), OL are seven points behind 5th place and almost say goodbye to their hopes of European qualification.
The title in sight
To be crowned champion of France 2022 on Wednesday evening, PSG had to do better than its Marseille dolphin. The Parisians fulfilled their part of the contract with a clear victory in Angers (3-0). Without Neymar, Messi, or even Verratti, Mauricio Pochettino’s men were carried by the inevitable Kylian Mbappé, and by the second goal in the Parisian jersey of Sergio Ramos. Captain Marquinhos came to drive the point home in the last quarter of an hour and concluded a successful performance from Mauricio Pochettino’s men, with the only downside being the exclusion of young Edouard Michut at the very end of the game. But the victory of Marseille against Nantes (3-2) delays the Parisian coronation. Next opportunity on Saturday at home against Lens, with a point to take to be crowned.
⌛️ It’s over in Angers, victory 3⃣ goals to 0⃣ for the Parisians! #SCOPSG
#ICICESTPARIS pic.twitter.com/UZf91Ul4Kf
— Paris Saint Germain (@PSG_inside) April 20, 2022
The race for Europe
By winning (3-2) in the last minutes against a valiant FC Nantes team, Marseille fulfilled its double objective: symbolically pushing back the coronation of the Parisian rival, and settling comfortably on the second step of the podium. And yet, the case was badly embarked for the men of Jorge Sampaoli. Twice led by Canaries in the legs, they had to rely on two penalties from Dimitri Payet, before Amine Harit, trained in Nantes, came to snatch victory at the start of the last quarter of an hour. With this success, OM extend their lead over Rennes, third, to six points, and cling firmly to second place in the standings, synonymous with direct qualification for the group stage of the Champions League.
The big winners of the evening are from Strasbourg and Lens. Fallers from Rennes to La Meinau after a solid performance (2-1), the Alsatians came back up to their evening opponent, just outside the podium. Diallo and Ajorque sealed the success of Racing, undefeated for 11 days, despite Terrier’s fine equalizer after returning from the locker room. Strasbourg, Rennais, and Monegasques, who won against Nice earlier in the day, all now have 56 points, and should fight to the end for third place which opens the way to the Champions League play-off. Quiet winners of Montpellier (2-0), thanks to Fofana and Ganago, the Lensois consolidate their 7th place in the standings, and come back to a point behind Nice. They only point to three units from the Rennes-Strasbourg-Monaco trio. While Franck Haise’s men collapsed in the final sprint last year, they have the opportunity to offer themselves a cannonball end to the season.
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They will put on the little envied costume of the big losers of the evening. Unable to beat Brest, 12th at kick-off, the Lyonnais saw almost all their opponents move away in the race for European places. Overwhelmed and quickly led to the score, the Lyonnais thought they had done the hardest part by equalizing twenty minutes from time, but they conceded a second fatal goal in stride. OL retain their 8th place, but are now four points behind Lens, 7th, seven behind Monaco, Strasbourg and Rennes, and have probably just buried their European dreams for next season.