The Marseillais, in poor form, fell to third place, beaten 2-0 on Saturday in Rennes, in a great evening atmosphere, during the 37th and penultimate day of Ligue 1. Monaco chained a ninth consecutive success on Saturday against Brest (4-2) and took advantage of the defeat of OM in Rennes (2-0) to overtake the Marseillais and take second place in the championship, directly qualifying for the Champions League. At the bottom of the table, Metz snatched the play-off spot from Saint-Etienne, while Bordeaux almost relegated to Ligue 2 after their draw at Lorient (0-0).
After a crazy evening where the positions have changed a lot, everything will be decided on the last day, in the race for the Champions League as well as for maintenance. And OM could well lose everything… Second for a long time, the Marseillais seemed exhausted at Roazhon Park on the lawn of Rennes, unable to stop the accelerations of Benjamin Bourigeaud (11th) and Lovro Majer (34th), the scorers.
Third place synonymous with a play-off for the Champions League
OM fell to third place, which sent to the Champions League play-offs, overtaken by ASM on goal difference (+25 against +21) before the last day, where Marseille, still under threat from their winner in the evening, receives Strasbourg at the Vélodrome, Monaco goes to Lens and Rennes to Lille.
A victory at Bollaert, which would be their tenth in a row, and the princely club would return to the Champions League, after an irresistible sprint, like their crazy evening: led 2-0 just before half-time , ASM overturned everything with a hat-trick from Wissam Ben Yedder (24 goals), who came within a length of Kylian Mbappé (25 goals) for the title of top scorer. OM receive Strasbourg (5th), which holds the place in the Europa League Conference, and must take at least one point to stay on the podium, and do better than Monaco to regain the place of runner-up.
Rennes almost guaranteed to play in the Europa League
Rennes (4th) is three points behind this duo. Admittedly, they have a much better goal difference (+42), but the men of Bruno Genesio, nominated among the best coaches for the UNFP trophies, whose ceremony is held on Sunday, need a collapse of their two rivals to play the Champions League.
On the other hand, they hold the place well in the Europa League, with Nantes, winner of the Coupe de France. The Rennais overtake Nice (6th), beaten on their ground by Lille (3-1), with the awakening of Jonathan David, author of a double, his first goals since March 6.
The anger of Bordeaux supporters, the Girondins close to Ligue 2
Strasbourg (5th) also overtakes Nice on goal difference (+21 against +15) before the last day. Le Gym, beaten in the Cup final by Nantes (1-0), risks losing everything. Lens, winner at Troyes (3-1), has a theoretical chance of finishing European, two points behind the Strasbourg-Nice duo.
The fight for relegation is also very indecisive between Metz (18th) and Saint-Étienne (19th). The fate of the Girondins de Bordeaux (20th) is almost settled, after a sad goalless draw against Lorient, which ensures the maintenance of the “Hakes”. The Girondins are three lengths behind the Grenats, and a crippling goal difference (-41 against -29). The Bordeaux stadium rumbled all evening with the anger of the supporters, who threw toilet paper on the field at their players.
Saint-Étienne in danger
At Geoffroy-Guichard, suspended, it was in a dismal closed session that the Greens wasted their chance by losing at home against Reims (2-1). Metz, which has long seemed doomed, doubles Saint-Étienne to return to the place of barrage by beating Angers (1-0). Clermont and Troyes also ensured their maintenance, despite their defeats, the Auvergnats in Strasbourg (1-0) and the Aubois against Lens (3-1). With 36 and 37 points respectively, neither Clermont Foot nor Estac can no longer be joined by Metz and Saint-Étienne (31 points).
Finally in the match between teams that had nothing left to play for, Paris Saint-Germain honored their title of champion of France by correcting a once again disastrous Montpellier (4-0). Kylian Mbappé, author of three assists – with a double for Lionel Messi – and a goal (from the penalty spot), prepared well for the evening of the UNFP Trophies of which he is the big favorite.