Under the microscope: The race for Europe

Even though the Ligue 1 Uber Eats title is not yet mathematically decided, Paris Saint-Germain are well on their way to a record 11th league title thanks to their six-point lead over second with three games to go, a very favourable goal difference and a clement fixture list.

Behind them, the battle is raging between RC Lens and Olympique de Marseille for second place and the direct qualification for the group stage of the Champions League that goes with it. AS Monaco are ideally placed for fourth, which will qualify them for the group stage of the Europa League, but they still need to finish the job. LOSC, Stade Rennais and Olympique Lyonnais are the other three sides still in the running for Europe, with fifth place earning a ticket to the Europa League play-offs.

Standings (goal difference):
1. PSG: 81 pts (+49)
2. RC Lens: 75 pts (+32)
3. OM: 73 pts (+30)
4. AS Monaco: 65 pts (+17)
5. LOSC: 60 pts (+19)
6. Stade Rennais: 59 pts (+22)
7. OL: 56 pts (+15)

Lens and OM neck and neck for second

Along with PSG, RC Lens are already assured of finishing on the Ligue 1 Uber Eats podium this season. So far this season, the club has won 22 league games - the highest total in its history. But Franck Haise and his men want more for RCL, who have not qualified the group stage of the Champions League for 21 years. Second in the standings after 35 games, Les Sang et Or have their fate in their own hands. Two points behind them with almost the same goal difference, OM have taken on the role of hunters. Suspense is therefore very much the order of the day with three rounds to go.

Round 36 will provide the first indications, with the most difficult match of the season run-in for both Lens and OM, ahead of two bottom-of-the-table opponents. In Lorient, RC Lens will have to impose themselves, as they are on a four-game winning streak, the best in the division, with an inspired attack. Les Sang et Or have found the net in each of their last 14 league games (26 goals in total), their longest such run in the 21st century and their first in a single season since 1974-75 (21).

Meanwhile, OM will have their work cut out away to fifth-placed LOSC. If they want to be sure of participating in their second consecutive Champions League group stage by finishing second, Igor Tudor's side will have to do better than Lens at the end of the season. This will certainly require a result in Lille next weekend.

As proof of the fierce battle for the podium this season, Marseille have 73 points after 35 Ligue 1 Uber Eats games, the second highest total for a team ranked third at this stage of the season, behind OGC Nice in 2016-17 (77). OM are also still in the running for the highest points total in their history (81 in 1991-92, with three points for a win).

The run-ins

RC Lens
R36: Lorient away (Sunday 21 May at 17:05)
R37: Ajaccio at home (Saturday 27 May at 21:00)
R38: Auxerre away (Saturday 3 June at 21:00)

Olympique de Marseille
R36: Lille away (Saturday 20 May at 21:00)
R37: Brest at home (Saturday 27 May at 21:00)
R38: Ajaccio away (Saturday 3 June at 21:00)

Monaco on course for Europa League berth

AS Monaco are eight points adrift of OM in fourth place and must now concentrate on not dropping lower on the table. With a five-point lead over LOSC and a six-point lead over Stade Rennais, the players from the Principality look set to join Coupe de France winners Toulouse FC in the group stage of the Europa League.

But the Monegasques are wary, as they face two perilous trips - to Lyon and then Rennes, two European contenders, before hosting Toulouse on the final day. An encouraging sign for ASM is that they have lost only 12% of their Ligue 1 Uber Eats trips this season (two out of 17 - ten wins, five draws). In its history, the club has only done better in 2003-04 and 2016-17 (11% each time).

Conference League suspense

In the race for fifth place, LOSC are currently in the lead. However, they are under pressure from Stade Rennais, who are one point behind with a slightly better goal difference. As for OL in seventh, four points behind Lille, they will have to come close to a flawless end to the season if they are to have any hope of getting back into Europe.

With two home games and one away, LOSC can make the breakthrough, having lost none of their last 14 home games in Ligue 1 Uber Eats (ten wins, four draws), the longest such streak in the division at the moment. The side from Lille have not done better on home soil in the top flight since August 2008-April 2009 (15).

OM will nevertheless be a tough nut to crack in the first match, followed by FC Nantes and then ESTAC Troyes. Behind them, Stade Rennais will be able to rely on their solidity, having kept eight clean sheets in the league in 2023. Only Stade de Reims have done better over the period (10). Apart from Monaco in Round 37, Les Rouge et Noir will face two teams from the bottom of the table: AC Ajaccio and Stade Brestois 29.

In the meantime, the OL players will try to prove their coach Laurent Blanc - who expressed serious doubts about the club's European chances after their defeat at Clermont last Sunday - wrong. To keep hope alive, they will first have to win Friday's clash against AS Monaco at the Groupama Stadium. Les Gones will then have a home game (against Reims) and an away game (against Nice) in which to press their luck and pull off a much hoped-for qualification miracle.

The run-ins

AS Monaco

LOSC
R36: OM at home (Saturday 20 May at 21:00)
R37: Nantes at home (Saturday 27 May at 21:00)
R38: Troyes away (Saturday 3 June at 21:00)

Stade Rennais FC
R36: Ajaccio away (Sunday 21 May at 1pm)
R37: Monaco at home(Saturday 27 May at 21:00)
R38: Brest away (Saturday 3 June  at 21:00)

Olympique Lyonnais
R36: Monaco at home (Friday 19 May  at 21:00)
R37: Reims at home (Saturday 27 May at 21:00)
R38: Nice away (Saturday 3 June  at 21:00)

Key stats:

Best attack:
1. PSG: 84 goals scored
2. AS Monaco: 68
3. OM: 65
4. LOSC: 60
-- Stade Rennais: 60

Best defence:
1. RC Lens: 27 goals conceded
2. OGC Nice: 34
3. OM: 35
-- PSG: 35
5. Stade de Reims: 37

Best home record:
1. RC Lens: 49 pts (18 matches)
2. Stade Rennais: 42 pts (18)
3. PSG: 41 pts (18)
4. LOSC: 37 pts (17)
5. OM: 34 pts (18)

Best away record:
1. PSG: 40 pts (17 matches)
2. OM: 39 pts (17)
3. AS Monaco: 35 pts (17)
4. OL: 27 pts (18)
-- OGC Nice: 27 pts (18)
6. RC Lens: 26 pts (17)