Paris (AFP)

The final sprint to the Ligue 1 title was launched on Saturday by Paris SG, the new leader after a success in Metz (3-1) which forced Lille to respond on Sunday in Lyon.

Lower, Brest has almost validated its maintenance.

One thing is certain, PSG will be able to thank Kylian Mbappé if he manages to be crowned at the end of the season.

The 34th day, like the 33rd, smiled at the French striker, double scorer in Metz after scoring a double against Saint-Etienne a week earlier.

In addition to adding to his score interesting defensive runs, the world champion stacks the goals, the first after a nice call in the back of the defense, the second with a deflected dry strike.

With 25 goals - and eight doubles!

-, the Frenchman is in a season of fire and replaces Paris at the top of the standings, two points ahead of Lille, which has a difficult trip to Lyon to negotiate on Sunday (9:00 p.m.) to resume its chair.

Mauro Icardi also scored late in the game, from the penalty spot.

The Parisians, "focused on the 10 matches" they have left this season according to sporting director Leonardo on Canal + (5 matches in L1 including Metz, 3 in the Champions League and 2 in the Coupe de France), have in any case fulfilled their mission, before challenging Manchester City for the C1 semi-final first leg on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.).

Lille now has the pressure on its shoulders, especially as its opponent Lyon can come back to its height in case of success.

And in the meantime, Monaco can also pass in front of the Mastiffs, in case of victory at Angers (5:05 pm).

- Charbonnier saves Brest -

Sunday will also be an opportunity to see more clearly in the depths of the ranking.

And in the race to maintain, Brest took a big step thanks to its victory in Saint-Etienne (2-1).

Led, the Bretons turned the situation around thanks to an unexpected double from Gaëtan Charbonnier, scorer on a good direct free kick then on a nice tumble on the left wing.

A huge breath of fresh air for the Brestois, who had not won since March 3 and rose to 13th place with 40 points, one more unit than their opponent at the start of the afternoon.

"To have won is a very good result while waiting for the matches on Sunday with direct confrontations for the maintenance", underlined the hero of the evening.

Direct confrontations, there will be one between Lorient (17th) and Bordeaux (16th) in Brittany.

This will be tinged with crisis on the Girondin side, since the worrying announcement of the withdrawal of the King Street shareholder on Thursday, placing the club on the verge of bankruptcy.

With 36 points and four defeats in a row, Bordeaux is also in difficulty sporting, eight points in front of the 19th, Nantes, traveling to Strasbourg (3:00 p.m.), and five in front of the barrage Nîmes, who goes to Lens (3:00 p.m.).

The Sang et Or are still aiming for an unexpected 5th place, nabbed by Marseille on Friday after OM's 3-1 victory against Reims.

© 2021 AFP