Marseille are fighting with Lens for second place, and Olympique have a tough game in Lille today. Nantes, which are “scratching” for survival, have completely opposite concerns…Two points, that’s how much the third-placed Marseille are behind Lens with only three rounds to go. Overcoming the deficit and jumping to this goal, at least until Sunday afternoon, will certainly not be an easy task for OM, if we remember that the current opponent Lille are currently fifth. In addition, the Les Dogues are certainly very interested in a triumph due to the rush of sixth-placed Rennais.The Champions League should not escape Marseille. But only the top two from Ligue 1 advance to the group stage of Europe’s elite, the third must go through the unpredictable pitfalls of the preliminary rounds. And of course, Olympique would like to avoid that. However, it seems that the loss to direct rivals Lens two weeks ago, who hold the runner-up position, could have fatal consequences in this regard.Nothing is lost anyway, there are still nine points to play for. Simply put, Marseille do not have their destiny in their own ‘feet’. On the other hand, if they celebrate in tonight’s match, it would not be difficult for them to grab more victories in the next two matches. At home, they welcome Brest, who are fighting fiercely for survival, and then visit Ajaccio, who are sure to be relegated.The witness of Parisian rise set to stay for 15 years at Parc des PrincesStill, OM are left to hope that Lens will somehow sway. Preferably on Sunday on the ground in Lorient. However, “Les Sang et Or” don’t have to deal with a particularly difficult schedule either, because they will face Ajaccio, and at the end they will also face Auxerre, that is, an opponent that strives to maintain the status in the top tier.Even Lille will have something to play for in the latter stages of this season. Coach Paulo Fonseca’s men are in fifth place, which is the last to guarantee qualification for the Conference League for next season. Les Dogues share the minimum distance with the advancing Rennais, and Lyon can still get involved in this race as well.”I expect a difficult match. Our opponent plays offensively, has great quality. But for us the match for second place is important, so we intend to win,” said Marseille’s strategist Igor Tudor.6 – Marseille have won 6 games after conceding the first goal in Ligue 1 2022/23, equaling their highest tally in a single season over the last 75 years (after 1975/76 and 1988/89). Experience. #OMSCO pic.twitter.com/j8Wo8sfhsq— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 14, 2023 On the other hand, after 35 rounds played, the situation at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table seems clear. Either Auxerre will be relegated to Ligue 2, or Nantes will compete in a lower tier. Brest is 15th in the table, Strasbourg 14th and they have acquired a decent stock.Nantes can temporarily move ahead of Auxerre even in the event of a draw with Montpellier, as they have a better record than their rivals, who are only a point ahead. But recently appointed coach Pierre Aristouy, who replaced the sacked Antoine Kombouaré, is under no illusions.”Perhaps nine points will not be enough for us. I am not overly optimistic, as many of you would like. Because I simply do not think that Auxerre will lose to both PSG and Lens,” Aristouy warned before the last three rounds.Montpellier were also involved in worries about survival for a while, but after the arrival of coach Michel Der Zakarian, otherwise a legend of Nantes, they improved their results so much that they will end the year in the peaceful middle of the table.”I haven’t set any scoring goals. I just want to have our destiny in our hands before the final game with Angers,” Aristouy wished.LIGUE 1 – ROUND 36FridayOlympique Lyon – Monaco 3-1 (1-1)/Lacazette 38, Caqueret 57, Cherki 78 – Ben Yedder 2 pen/Saturday18:00: (2.21) Nantes (3.40) Montpellier (3.40)22:00: (2.55) Lille (3.50) Olympique Marseille (2.95)Sunday14:00: (7.50) Ajaccio (4.10) Rennes (1.52)16:00: (2.16) Brest (3.40) Clermont (3.60)16:00: (1.99) Nice (3.50) Toulouse (3.90)16:00: (1.48) Reims (4.80) Angers (8.00)16:00: (5.90) Troyes (4.00) Strasbourg (1.63)18:05: (5.80) Lorient (3.90) Lens (1.65)21:45: (7.75) Auxerre (5.10) PSG (1.41)***odds are subject to change***
