The duel between Lens and Nantes, this Friday (8:45 PM), in the opening of the 33rd day of Ligue 1, could decide the future of both clubs next season. One aims for a direct qualification in the Champions League, the other dreams of a miracle to save itself.
Two different scenarios. Scheduled for this Friday (8:45 PM), the opening match of the 33rd day of Ligue 1 between RC Lens and FC Nantes offers a double burning stake. On one side are the Sang et Or, close to securing an unexpected ranking at the beginning of the season, and on the other side are the Canaries on the brink. The calculations are simple: Racing only needs one point to secure its ticket to the league phase of next year’s Champions League.
Despite slowing down in recent weeks, Pierre Sage’s men, solid runners-up to PSG, have four points ahead of OL (3rd), six ahead of Lille (4th), and eight ahead of Rennes (5th). Unlike their pursuers, they still have three games ahead of them in the league, with the famous postponed match against PSG on May 13, followed by a clash with Lyon on May 17. The idea for Lens is to secure their place in the C1 as soon as possible to turn calmly towards their French Cup final against Nice on May 22.
“We have an absolute duty to win to consolidate our second place because, given the season we are experiencing together, there is no way we would consider any other place than second, even if we always have to look up a bit,” Pierre Sage emphasized this week. The team still mathematically dreams of the title (six points behind Paris, who also have three matches to play). On the Nantes side, the situation is obviously very different.
Nantes clings to a miracle
Revitalized by their 3-0 win against OM last Saturday, but also cooled down by Auxerre’s victory against Angers (3-1), the teammates of Matthis Abline have no choice: they absolutely must win at Bollaert to avoid relegation to Ligue 2 as soon as tonight. In case of success, they will then have to hope for a slip-up by AJA on Sunday against Nice. With two days left, FCN, stuck in 17th place, still trails the barrage place by five points with a significantly unfavorable goal difference (-13 for Auxerre, -22 for Nantes).
In other words, the mission is almost impossible, and the supporters are already preparing to experience the third relegation in their history. The second under Waldemar Kita’s reign. “If we win this type of match, a lot of things can happen,” Vahid Halilhodzic wants to remain positive, convinced that he would have secured this survival if he had returned to the club earlier in the season. “We have to achieve this… monumental feat. I don’t know what adjective I can use to emphasize this potential victory.”
One last statistic: Nantes has not won in Lens since March 4, 2013. Both teams were then in Ligue 2, and the visitors won in a thrilling manner (2-1) with a goal from Fabrice Pancrate.
Lens directly qualifies for the Champions League on Friday if:
– They win or draw against Nantes
Nantes is relegated to Ligue 2 on Friday if:
– They do not win against Lens
