PARIS, May 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain have gone into meltdown
despite another league title, but below them this is a potentially decisive
weekend in France in the battle for Champions League qualification.
With only second place in Ligue 1 certain to join PSG in next season’s
Champions League group stage, Lille’s trip to Lyon on Sunday could define
their campaign.
Lille have enjoyed an extraordinary campaign and have held second place
since early December, inspired by the brilliance of Ivory Coast forward
Nicolas Pepe, who Lyon tried to buy back in August and who has scored 20
league goals this season.
Christophe Galtier’s team are currently six points ahead of Lyon with a
superior goal difference, so a victory for them at the Groupama Stadium would
put them out of reach with only three games left after this weekend.
“We are having a great run and we need to make it exceptional by putting in
a great performance at Lyon,” said Galtier after his team’s 5-0 trouncing of
Nimes last week.
A first appearance in the group stage of Europe’s elite club competition
since 2012/13 is the goal for Lille, while for Lyon missing out on the
Champions League is unthinkable.
They must at least hold onto third, which will take them into the
qualifying rounds of the Champions League, although it could also take them
straight to the group stage depending on who wins the Europa League.
They have won both matches since coach Bruno Genesio confirmed that he
would be leaving the club at the end of the season, but their priority for
now has to be holding off great rivals Saint-Etienne, who lie just three
points adrift in fourth.
Saint-Etienne may be historically France’s most successful club, yet they
have not finished in the top three since 1982. If they can do so this time,
pipping Lyon would be the icing on the cake for their fans.
Les Verts do at the very least look set to qualify for the Europa League,
lying five points ahead of Marseille and Montpellier before going to Monaco
on Sunday.
The principality club have endured a torrid season, but they came back from
2-0 down to draw at Rennes on Wednesday thanks to a Radamel Falcao brace,
moving them four points clear of the relegation zone.
– Neymar, Mbappe in hot water –
Meanwhile, PSG suffered their third defeat in their last four league games
when they were beaten 3-2 at Montpellier in midweek, on the back of their
French Cup final defeat on penalties against Rennes.
They may be champions again, but their campaign began to disintegrate with
their exit from Europe against Manchester United in March.
They host Nice on Saturday, although their build-up to that game has been
overshadowed by the threat of lengthy suspensions hanging over Neymar and
Kylian Mbappe.
The duo have both been nominated for France’s player of the year award
along with teammate Angel Di Maria, Lille star Pepe and Rennes maverick Hatem
Ben Arfa.
However, Mbappe was sent off in the Cup final for a dreadful tackle on
Rennes defender Damien Da Silva, while Neymar is in hot water after being
filmed hitting a fan who provoked the Brazilian as he went up to collect his
runners-up medal.
The end of the season cannot come soon enough for PSG, but they can still
match their own league record points tally of 96 if they win their remaining
games.
“We can’t play four crap matches,” warned defender Marquinhos.
“We are the champions, we have to put in good performances, enjoy ourselves
and make our fans happy.”
Fixtures (kick-offs GMT)
Friday
Strasbourg v Marseille (1845)
Saturday
Paris Saint-Germain v Nice (1500), Bordeaux v Angers, Guingamp v Caen,
Reims v Nimes (all 1800)
Sunday
Montpelliers v Amiens, Nantes v Dijon, Toulouse v Rennes (all 1300), Monaco
v Saint-Etienne (1500), Lyon v Lille (1900)