Lens validated its second place, synonymous with direct qualification for the Champions League. OM lost to Brest, and will end the Ligue 1 season in third place.
The 37th day of Ligue 1 delivered its verdict this Saturday evening after a ten-game multiplex. Among the issues of the evening, the race to qualify for the next edition of the Champions League was sealed about a few minutes of play only.
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Indeed, RC Lens had no trouble getting rid of AC Ajaccio (3-0), in a sold-out Bollaert-Delelis stadium for the 26th time in a row, with in particular three goals scored in the first period. In turn, Deiver Machado (16th), Adrien Thomasson (22nd) and Loïs Openda (35th), on penalty, allowed the Sang et Or to definitively validate their second place in Ligue 1, synonymous with direct qualification in C1, a first for 21 years.
At the same time, OM lost pitifully against Stade Brestois (1-2) at the Vélodrome and will therefore end the current exercise on the third step of the podium. Alexis Sanchez’s teammates will therefore have to go through a third preliminary round, before a possible play-off, in order to hope to compete in the group stage of the big-eared cup, raised 30 years ago by the Marseille club.
Lille does the right thing, Monaco leaves the top 5
Thanks to two penalties converted by Jonathan David (51st, 88th), Lille, who only framed… two shots, won a precious victory against Nantes (2-1) on the lawn of Pierre-Mauroy. A success that allows LOSC to take fourth place, synonymous with qualification for the Europa League, with a point ahead of Rennes (5th) and Monaco (6th), which has a lower goal difference.
If the race for the Champions League is therefore folded, the race for the Europa League remains even more open than ever and will be decided next Saturday, on the occasion of the 38th and last day of Ligue 1. Lille will move on the lawn from Troyes, while Rennes will go to Brest and Monaco will host Toulouse.
