The last seven of the championship are held in only ten points, with in particular five clubs in three points. Angers, Lorient, Troyes, Clermont, Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux and Metz can still hope for maintenance.
It goes for Nantes, Montpellier, Brest or Reims
Barring an industrial disaster, the top 13 in Ligue 1 are now guaranteed to stay in the top flight for one more season. Nantes closes the Top 10 with 47 points. Montpellier, Brest and Reims open the second half of the table but should have a quieter end to the season and play for places of honour. Behind, they are seven to still hope for maintenance.
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Angers, best placed (14th, 34 points)
With only three points ahead of 18th place, but seven over Bordeaux (19th), the SCO should stay in Ligue 1 next season, or at worst go through the play-offs. On the other hand, Angers is in poor shape. Only one victory in the last twelve games for Gérald Baticle’s men, who have a “lenient” schedule for this end of the season. A shock at the bottom of the table on the next day and a trip to the Rock afterwards with the reception of Montpellier, which will certainly not have much to play for, on the last day.
The Angers calendar:
D34: go to Clermont
D35: go to Monaco
D36: receives Metz
D37: go to Bordeaux
D38: receives Montpellier
Lorient should stay (15th, 34 points)
Lorient are tied on points with Angers, but are only behind because of a lower goal difference (-19, against -13 for Angers). The Merlus are on a good dynamic with ten points in the last six games, including a crazy success against Saint-Etienne and a precious victory against Metz. The Bretons will play a derby for their next match, before the receptions of Reims and Bordeaux. Lorient will end up in Marseille and by receiving Troyes. A delicate calendar for the players of Christophe Pellissier but their advance should consolidate them in the elite.
The Lorient calendar:
D34: go to Rennes
D35: receives Reims
D36: receives Bordeaux
D37: go to Marseilles
D38: receives Troyes
Troyes has the worst schedule (16th, 33 points)
Watch out for Troyes, the danger is still there. Of the seven clubs engaged in this mad struggle to maintain, ESTAC is the least well off. Shocks against Nice and LOSC, before a trip to the Parc des Princes. This match should be the first at home for PSG players since their title. Beware of the rouste against Parisians in jubilees. The infernal calendar continues for Troyes with the reception of Lens and finally a trip to Clermont to finish. This last match should be played between two teams already maintained, finally if all goes well.
The Troyes calendar:
D34: go to Nice
D35: receives Lille
D36: go to Paris
D37: receives Lens
D38: go to Lorient
Clermont still remains in a good position (17th, 32 points)
At the dawn of the 34th day, Clermont has only one point ahead of the 18th, but five on the first relegation. Pascal Gastien’s players therefore have their destiny in their hands. A next match against Angers, which could upset the classification, before a trip to Brest and the reception of Montpellier, two teams which have little more to play for. Finally, the CF63 will go to Strasbourg and challenge OL at home for their last match. Two tricky games to finish. Clermont would do well to take shelter, and quickly.
The Clermont calendar:
D34: receives Angers
D35: go to Brest
D36: receives Montpellier
D37: go to Strasbourg
D38: receives Lyon
Saint-Etienne and the triptych of hell (18th, 31 points)
Saint-Etienne, which was diving straight towards Ligue 2, has made a crazy comeback in recent weeks, with 16 points in the last twelve games, against 15 in the first 21. Only ASSE stalls again and has had only one success in its last six meetings (2-1 against Brest on April 16) and is facing a crazy schedule. Three clashes against ASM, Stade Rennais and OGC Nice, including two away from home in the next three games, which will be crucial for the Greens. Two more affordable meetings at the end of the championship to still hope, after having tried to limit the breakage.
The Saint-Etienne calendar:
D34: receives Monaco
D35: go to Rennes
D36: go to Nice
D37: receives Reims
D38: go to Nantes
Bordeaux, what if, what if? (19th, 27 points)
Long stuck in last place, Bordeaux could save his skin. Now penultimate, the Girondins are four points behind the barrage and five on the first non-relegation. The FCGB can still believe in it, with an “affordable” schedule. Matches against teams that will have nothing left to play for, except for places of honor (Nantes and Brest), against others that should be maintained by then (Angers and Lorient) and a meeting facing a European future (Nice). However, Bordeaux have the keys but must also rely on missteps from their direct opponents.
The Bordeaux calendar:
D34: go to Nantes
D35: receives Nice
D36: go to Angers
D37: receives Lorient
D38: go to Brest
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Metz can hope thanks to three receptions (20th, 24 points)
For the Garnets, the task promises to be more than complicated. But five days from the end, they are seven points behind the play-off spot and everything is still possible. Especially since the calendar is rather favorable to them. Metz first plays Brest and Montpellier, two teams stuck in the mid-table who have little to play for, before receiving Lyon. And Fred Antonetti’s players could take advantage of OL’s feverishness against opponents who are supposed to be weaker on paper to make a big splash. Will follow the reception of Angers, which should already be maintained and a trip to the Parc des Princes to conclude. A double-edged last match but beware of the Parisians’ jubilee in front of their audience for the last.
The Metz calendar:
D34: receives Brest
D35: go to Montpellier
D36: receives Lyon
D37: receives Angers
D38: go to Paris
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