Paris (AFP)

Olympique de Marseille, in the fight for a European qualification, moves to Reims on Friday (9 p.m.) for a 34th day of Ligue 1 animated by the pursuit of the final sprint at the head, with a Lyon-Lille shock on Sunday.

Jorge Sampaoli's men have just chained four victories in six matches and have a calendar without a big opponent by the end of the season, but that is not enough for the moment to steal 5th place in Ligue 1 from Lens, qualifier for the time being for the Europa League Conference (C4), a new third European Cup that UEFA wants to launch next season.

This fifth place, which could even qualify for the Europa League (C3) depending on the results in the Coupe de France, is still held by the Sang et Or (53 pts), who have one point more than the Marseillais.

And just behind, Rennes is behind OM by a length and also dreams of returning to the continental games after having played in the Champions League in the fall.

"At this stage of the season, we cannot let any points slip away," said Marseille defender Pol Lirola last week, after his providential double against Lorient (3-2).

This is all the more true as Rennes faces the red lantern Dijon on Sunday (3:00 p.m.), the DFCO at risk of being officially relegated this weekend, and that Lens welcomes Nîmes (18th) at the same time.

Above this fight for Europe, the final sprint is launched in the leading quartet, with a duel at the top between Lyon, 4th with 67 points, and Lille, leader with 70 units.

Sunday evening (9 p.m.), OL therefore have a great opportunity to reduce the gaps before going to face Monaco (3rd, 68 pts) a week later.

The Monegasques, intractable for several weeks, go to Angers on Sunday (5:05 p.m.) to try to chain a 5th victory in a row in L1, while Paris SG (2nd, 69 points) hope to regain the lead by beating Metz at Saint-Symphorien Saturday (5:00 p.m.).

Paris will then be able to turn to its semi-final of the Champions League next Wednesday against Manchester City, one of the dissident clubs of the ephemeral Super League which shook European football at the beginning of the week before deflating.

The program (in French hours):

Friday:

(9 p.m.) Reims - Marseille

Saturday:

(13h00) Saint-Etienne - Brest

(5:00 p.m.) Metz - Paris SG

Sunday:

(13h00) Nice - Montpellier

(3:00 p.m.) Lorient - Bordeaux

Lens - Nîmes

Strasbourg - Nantes

Rennes - Dijon

(5:05 p.m.) Angers - Monaco

(9:00 p.m.) Lyon - Lille

© 2021 AFP