.
The shock: Lyon-Lille, last chance?
The poster between OL and Losc, Sunday (8:45 p.m.) could have been a shock at the top of the table, but it is not: between the 8th and the 11th, the opposition is rather that of the last chance for the two formations, left behind in the race for qualifying places for the Champions League.
The Lyonnais are seven lengths from the podium, the northern French champion at nine.
After their defeat in London on Tuesday in the round of 16 first leg against Chelsea (2-0), Lille seems very badly embarked on seeing the C1 again next year.
A defeat would undoubtedly put a definitive end to the dreams of Jocelyn Gourvennec's men, who have won only twice in 2022. "It's not enough in accounting terms", admits the Lille coach.
Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec during a press conference on February 21, 2022 at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, on the eve of the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Chelsea Glyn KIRK AFP / Archives
OL, which only play one game a week while waiting for the resumption of the final phase of the Europa League, will seek a little consistency.
In February 2022, Peter Bosz's team was stunning against Marseille (2-1), overwhelmed in Monaco (0-2), attractive against Nice (2-0), powerless in Lens (1-1). Difficult to exude serenity.
Lyon defender Castello Lukeba, struggling with Lensois striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, during their match of the 25th day of Ligue 1, February 19, 2022 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP / Archives
.
The player: Justin Kluivert, elusive
Nice, 3rd, has also alternated between good and bad in recent weeks, with qualification for the semi-finals of the Coupe de France but also two defeats in Ligue 1.
But one man rarely disappoints: Dutchman Justin Kluivert.
The 22-year-old winger, a major transfer from the Nice transfer window last summer via a loan from AS Roma with an option to buy, has an impact on all meetings, like his goal against Angers on Sunday (1-0).
Nice's Dutch striker Justin Kluivert during the home match of the 25th day of Ligue 1 against Angers, February 20, 2022 at the Allianz Riviera Valery HACHE AFP / Archives
Against Marseille in the Coupe de France on February 9 (4-1), the Dutchman had already delivered a major performance, with two goals and an assist.
"He took the rhythm and the measure of the workload. He brings us depth, percussion, technical quality", greeted his trainer Christophe Galtier.
Against Strasbourg on Saturday (5:00 p.m.), among Alsatians who are fourth in the three-point standings from Le Gym, the Dutchman is expected to feature in an important poster for the podium, especially since Marseille (2nd), beaten last week, has only one unit more than Nice before going to Troyes on Sunday (5:05 p.m.).
.
The figure: 37, the gap between Paris and Saint-Etienne
If Paris-SG and Saint-Etienne are only one unit apart in their number of French championship titles (9 for Parisians, 10 for Stéphanois - record), the opposition on Saturday evening (9:00 p.m.) rarely been so unbalanced in the middle of the season.
PSG are at the top of L1 with 59 units, and ASSE, 16th, has only 22 small points, one more than the red lantern, Bordeaux.
Thirty-seven points separate the two formations before their meeting at the Parc des Princes, a chasm nevertheless reduced in recent weeks by "Sainté", launched on a series of three victories and a draw in the Championship.
However, the dynamic is not as clear as the gap suggests, within the two clubs.
Because the Parisians are just recovering from a humiliation, suffered in Nantes (3-1) on Saturday in a climate of tension with the arbitration.
In front of his audience, the "MNM", Messi-Neymar-Mbappé, will want to redeem himself.
© 2022 AFP