The 33rd day of Ligue 1, played on Wednesday April 20, made it possible to see a little more clearly in the races for Europe and maintenance. Victorious, Lens and Strasbourg are once again within shooting range of the European folding seats, when Lille and Lyon have moved away. Downstairs, Reims has almost ensured its maintenance. With five games to go, each team’s schedules say a lot about the chances of achieving the goals. Overview.
The race for Europe
With a six-point lead, Olympique de Marseille (2nd, 62 points) is firmly attached to its second place, directly qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League. But be careful, because OM still have to face Rennes (May 14) and Strasbourg (May 21), two direct competitors, but also Lyon (May 1). If the road that leads to the C1 seems clear for Marseille, it will not be without pitfalls.
Behind, Rennes (3rd) and Strasbourg (4th) have the same number of units as Monaco, 5th with 56 pts. Stade Rennais, in poor shape, still has the advantage of receiving three times over the last five days, when Racing will only play twice at La Meinau. But the Alsatians will have the advantage of facing freewheeling opponents.
You guys were awesome again tonight!
Logical victory for our Strasbourg residents who will have dominated this part and cling to their 4th place #RCSASRFC (2-1) pic.twitter.com/gBfGervN9b
— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace (@RCSA) April 20, 2022
On a series of five straight wins, the Monegasques undoubtedly have the most affordable schedule, despite two hot trips to Geoffroy-Guichard and Bollaert. 7th with 53 pts, Lens is, precisely, back in this race. But the Sang et Or travel to the Parc on Saturday, in a match that should crown PSG. 5th place, qualifying for the Europa League Conference, could be achievable.
A notch behind, Nice (6th with 54 pts) is marking time. The Aiglons will mainly face teams at the bottom of the table, but their poor form against these less experienced opponents does not allow them any gap. Le Gym could also validate its qualification for the Europa League by winning the Coupe de France final against Nantes on May 7.
Finally, Lyon (8th with 49 pts) and Lille (9th, 48 pts) are starting from very (too?) far. If the OL schedule seems clear, despite a match against OM, that of Lille is much less so.
The Marseille calendar: in Reims (13th), against Lyon (8th), in Lorient (15th), in Rennes (3rd), against Strasbourg (4th).
The Rennes calendar: against Lorient (15th), against Saint-Etienne (18th), in Nantes (10th), against Marseille (2nd), in Lille (9th).
The Strasbourg calendar: in Lille (9th), against Paris (1st), in Brest (12th), against Clermont (17th), in Marseille (2nd).
The Monaco calendar: in Saint-Etienne (18th), against Angers (14th), in Lille (9th), against Brest (12th), in Lens (7th).
The Nice calendar: against Troyes (16th), in Bordeaux (19th), against Saint-Etienne (18th), against Lille (9th), in Reims (13th).
The Lens schedule: in Paris (1st), against Nantes (10th), in Reims (12th), in Troyes (16th), against Monaco (5th).
The race to maintain
Angers (14th) and Lorient (15th), both 34 points, have a small lead at the start of the last 5 days. Both will have to win their matches against direct competitors to ensure their maintenance. Troyes (16th with 33 pts) has less margin. Above all, ESTAC will mainly face top teams. The trip to Lorient on the last day could be expensive. Clermont (17th with 32 pts) will receive three times, facing a few teams that will have nothing to play for.
Saint-Etienne (18th with 31 pts) is much less polished: the Greens will play their next three games, including two away, against heavyweights. On the edge of the precipice, Bordeaux (19th with 27 pts) remains better off: apart from Nice, no major team is on the program, even if the Girondins are no longer masters of their destiny.
Finally, Metz (20th with 24 pts) receives three times, but the gift could prove to be poisoned, since the Messins have only won once at Saint-Symphorien. The Grenats already have a foot and a half in Ligue 2 and will end their season at the Parc des Princes.
The Angers calendar: in Clermont (17th), in Monaco (5th), against Bordeaux (19th), in Metz (20th), against Montpellier (11th).
The Lorient calendar: in Rennes (3rd), against Reims (13th), against Marseille (2nd), in Bordeaux (19th), against Troyes (16th).
The Troyes calendar: in Nice (6th), against Lille (9th), in Paris (1st), against Lens (7th), in Lorient (15th).
The Clermont calendar: against Angers (14th), in Brest (12th), against Montpellier (11th), in Strasbourg (4th), against Lyon (8th).
The Saint-Etienne calendar: against Monaco (5th), in Rennes (4th), in Nice (6th), against Reims (13th), in Nantes (10th).
The Bordeaux calendar: in Nantes (10th), against Nice (6th), in Angers (14th), against Lorient (15th), in Brest (12th).
The Metz calendar: against Brest (12th), in Montpellier (11th), against Lyon (8th), against Angers (14th), in Paris (1st).