PSG can win Ligue 1 if rival Lens drops points while race for a Champions League spot heats up
PARIS (AP) — The Ligue 1 title race is nearing conclusion and Paris Saint-Germain could be crowned champion against Brest if second-placed Lens drops points against Nantes. PSG leads Lens by six points and both have three games left, including their showdown in Lens on Wednesday. That match was rescheduled from April 11 to aid PSG's quest for a second straight Champions League title.
PSG reached the final on Wednesday after eliminating Bayern Munich. Next-to-last Nantes will be relegated to Ligue 2 unless it beats Lens on Friday. All other games are on Sunday.
The race for third place and an automatic Champions League spot is shaping up as a two-way contest between Lyon and Lille, who are separated by two points. Key matchups Third-placed Lyon travels to mid-table Toulouse with forwards Endrick, Afonso Moreira and Roman Yaremchuk all in good form. Fourth-placed Lille arguably has a tougher game at Monaco, which is in sixth place and strong at home.
Fifth-placed Rennes needs Lyon and Lille to slip up to maintain its slim chances of finishing third. Rennes hosts a Paris FC which has been revitalized since coach Antoine Kombouaré took charge , losing only once in nine games to move well clear of relegation trouble. Marseille's chaotic season has left a tense dressing room which is reportedly at breaking point heading into the game at Le Havre.
Coach Habib Beye has failed to turn things around despite doubling the amount of training sessions, and third place is out of reach for a Marseille which must avoid a fifth defeat in seven games. At the bottom, Auxerre hosts Nice with both sides fighting to avoid relegation. Auxerre is in 16th place, which is the relegation-promotion playoff spot.