Paris (AFP)

The coronation of Paris SG against Lyon in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue Friday (0-0 ap, 6-5 tab) almost condemned OL to a 2020-21 season without the European Cup. Reims, on the contrary, gets its ticket for the Europa League.

The Lyonnais knew it well, this final was one of their only chances to erase this average season nationally by qualifying for the second qualifying round in the Europa League, a place reserved for the winner of the Coupe de la Ligue.

But the club of Jean-Michel Aulas must now resolve to the most complicated scenario: only a coronation in the Champions League, at the end of August, would allow him to have his place in C1 next season.

PSG being already qualified by its title of champion of France in the Champions League, its title in the Coupe de la Ligue unlocks an additional ticket for the 6th in the championship, namely Reims, which finished at this rank according to the final classification established after this season truncated by the coronavirus.

The Champenois have been holding their breath since spring, it is now official: the Stade de Reims will see Europe again for the first time in 57 years and be able to reconnect with its glorious past: two Champions Clubs Cup finals lost to at Real Madrid (1956 and 1959) and a victory in the Latin Cup, pitting the champions of the countries of southern Europe (1953).

Before seeing the group stage, however, they will have to go through the second qualifying round scheduled for September 17, then the third one a week later, before a play-off scheduled for October 1, all behind closed doors and in a single match.

This is the route needed in Reims to join Lille and Nice, the two French clubs already qualified for the group stage of C3.

Above, PSG, Ligue 1 champion, and its runner-up Olympique de Marseille have already qualified for the group stage of the next Champions League.

Rennes, third in L1, must in principle go through two qualifying rounds to join them in pools. In the event of a misstep, the Bretons could be transferred to the Europa League.

On the other hand, Rennes can be exempted from these choppy matches if the winner of the 2019-2020 Europa League, who will be known on August 21, has already qualified for the C1 via his national championship.

Update on French clubs qualified and still able to qualify for the European Cups:

. Champions League

Qualified for the group stage: Paris SG, Marseille

Qualified for the third qualifying round: Rennes (may still be exempted)

Can qualify for the group stage: Lyon (in case of final victory in the Champions League)

. Europa League

Qualified for the group stage: Lille, Nice

Qualified for the second qualifying round: Reims

av-ama-ah-yk / bvo

© 2020 AFP