The strain has been constructing on Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille within the combat for Champions League qualification in Ligue 1 (FRANCK FIFE)
Marseille have gone from cruising in direction of Champions League qualification to immediately discovering themselves engaged in one thing of a dogfight, however Roberto De Zerbi is hoping his group can stand up to the strain and safe a return to Europe’s prime desk.
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Paris Saint-Germain have already been confirmed as Ligue 1 champions for the fourth season operating and now have a weekend off to organize for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final in opposition to Aston Villa.
The main target in France is due to this fact now totally on the combat under PSG to see who will be a part of them in subsequent season’s Champions League, with at the least six groups in competition for 2 computerized qualifying slots and one within the preliminary rounds.
Marseille are second, two factors above Monaco in third earlier than going to the principality on Saturday to resume a longstanding rivalry.
In the meantime Strasbourg, Lyon, Good and Lille are all inside three factors of Monaco, every able to benefit from slip-ups by the groups above them this weekend.
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Strasbourg and Good play one another on Saturday, whereas Lille and Lyon face troublesome away journeys, the latter going to Auxerre forward of their Europa League quarter-final second leg away to Manchester United.
Even Brest and Lens could but have a say within the race for European locations, however it’s Marseille who draw essentially the most consideration.
In mid-February, 22 video games into the season, Marseille have been six factors clear in second place, and 10 factors forward of Lyon in sixth.
They seemed to be easing to Champions League qualification, solely to then lose 4 of their subsequent 5 matches.
De Zerbi’s fury together with his group led to experiences in sports activities day by day L’Equipe that the Marseille squad have been on the point of a mutiny, with ahead Neal Maupay compelled to disclaim claims that the gamers had refused to coach.
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Former Brighton coach De Zerbi admitted he had been “irritated” together with his group however insisted he was in his component within the ceaselessly explosive ambiance on the Velodrome.
The Italian acquired a response as Marseille beat Toulouse 3-2 final weekend, with Mason Greenwood and Adrien Rabiot each scoring marvellous targets.
“I’m glad when the group offers every part. We will lose, we will win, we will make errors however we should give every part,” he mentioned after Marseille moved again as much as second.
There may be now presumably simply as a lot strain on Monaco, who misplaced 2-1 in Brest final day out and can slip 5 factors behind Marseille in the event that they lose on the Stade Louis II.
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The 2 golf equipment who dominated the French recreation within the late Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties are each banking on Champions League soccer subsequent season.
“An important factor is that we’ve got our future in our personal arms,” mentioned Monaco coach Adi Huetter.
“It’s as much as us to grab the chance.”
Participant to observe: Mason Greenwood
The Englishman misplaced his place within the Marseille group simply earlier than final month’s worldwide break, regardless of being their main scorer this season.
Nonetheless, he was recalled for the 3-1 defeat at Reims on the finish of March and performed a starring position in final week’s win in opposition to Toulouse with a marvellous objective to place his aspect forward within the second half on their technique to a 3-2 victory.
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De Zerbi will certainly maintain religion within the former Manchester United participant for the journey to Monaco, with Greenwood’s tally of 16 Ligue 1 targets this season bettered solely by PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, who has 21.
Key stats
5 – The variety of factors separating the six groups from Marseille in second to Lille in seventh
6 – Strasbourg are chasing a sixth straight win after they host Good. They’ve additionally conceded simply six targets of their final 11 Ligue 1 video games
9 – Backside membership Montpellier are on a run of 9 consecutive defeats
Fixtures (occasions GMT)
Friday
Lens v Reims (1845)
Saturday
Monaco v Marseille (1500), Toulouse v Lille (1700), Strasbourg v Good (1905)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Brest (1300), Le Havre v Rennes, Angers v Montpellier (each 1515), Auxerre v Lyon (1845)
Tuesday, April 22
Nantes v Paris Saint-Germain (1845)
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