The race for Champions League qualification in France is fast and furious. Nine points separate second-place Marseille and eighth-place Montpellier in the battle for the top three. A slate of exciting matches in France is on tap for this weekend and each will have an impact on the race for the top three.
Last season’s Ligue 1 champions, Lille, are down in 11th place. Six points separate them from the top four. Qualification to Europe is still possible, but Les Dogues need to improve their form. Montpellier are in the mix for European qualification and this will be a six-point affair.
Montpellier picked up nine points from the last 18 points available in Ligue 1. They lost three of their last four league games. Montpellier have failed to win against Lille in seven straight matches in Ligue 1.
Lille took eight points from the last 18 available. Their last two Ligue 1 fixtures both ended in defeat. Consistency has been difficult for Lille to find this season. Les Dogues did win 2-1 against Montpellier at home earlier this season.
Lyon and Nice will meet in a top-three six-point affair with both clubs able to take a big stride toward Champions League qualification for next season. Nice are third in the league and just one point off of second-place Marseille. Lyon are seventh ahead of the weekend and seven points off of Nice.
Les Gones are in form going into the game. They picked up 11 points from the last 18 points available in Ligue 1. Just one of their last six games finished as a defeat. Lyon’s last match in Ligue 1 was a 2-0 away loss to Monaco.
Nice are Ligue 1’s in-form team. The Eagles picked up 15 points from the last 18 points available in Ligue 1. They too are coming off of a loss. Nice were shocked by Clermont 1-0 at home. Christoph Galtier’s team has the joint-best defence with just 19 goals conceded.
Monaco are another side battling for the top three in Ligue 1. Lorient are not battling for Champions League qualification. Instead, Lorient are battling relegation. Lorient are 17th in the standings and only out of the relegation zone courtesy of goal difference.
Lorient picked up five points from the last 18 points available in the division. It was the second-fewest points picked up across the last six Ligue 1 games by any team. Sixteen of Lorient’s last 17 games in all competitions finished without a win.
Monaco collected 10 points across their last six games in Ligue. Les Monegasque have failed to win two straight games against Lorient, so a win isn’t a sure thing for the home team. Earlier this season, Monaco fell 1-0 away courtesy of a first half goal.
Nantes are comfortable in midtable with 32 points. Reims are 14th in the standings having taken 27 points in Ligue 1. As long as both teams continue to picking up points, these clubs will finish midtable. Nantes still have a shot at making Europe, but they need to improve their form.
Reims have won three straight games against Nantes in Ligue 1. They will be confident of winning for a second time against Nantes this term. Reims won 3-1 at home earlier this season against Nantes with all four goals coming in the second period.
Nantes took 10 points from the last 18 points available in the division. However, three of the team’s last four games ended without a win. Nantes are just six points off of fourth-place Strasbourg and the Europa League qualification places.