ASM (4th) is eight lengths behind OM (3rd) but five points ahead of Losc (5th) who hosts Marseille on Saturday.

But the Northerners are also under pressure from Lyon (7th), who come back on their heels, one point, and equal Rennes (6th) who will play Sunday in Ajaccio, already relegated.

OL coach Laurent Blanc may have considered the race to Europe "grated" for his team beaten Sunday in Clermont (2-1), the fact remains that a qualification for the Europa League Conference remains mathematically possible even if it does not depend only on Lyon, two days from the end.

Monaco, who remained on a victory over Angers (2-1) and a draw against Lille (0-0), had opened the scoring by Wissam Ben Yedder on a penalty obtained after fifteen seconds of play for a foul committed on himself by goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Never in its history had OL conceded a penalty so quickly.

But the Monegasques were not able to build on this early lead.

Subsequently, Lopes was decisive on an attempt by Ismail Jakobs (18), and two successive shots by Youssouf Fofana and Alexandr Golovin (34).

The latter was again dangerous in front of Lopes (54) before an uncertain Vanderson centre fell over the bar (70).

26th goal for Lacazette

Failing to materialize its few chances, Monaco was punished.

Alexandre Lacazette, taking a pass from Bradley Barcola equalized by scoring his 26th goal of the season in Ligue 1 (38).

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette equalizes for his team against Monaco at Groupama Stadium, May 19, 2023 © JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK / AFP

In the second half, Philippe Clement's team collapsed against an opponent, much more dynamic and who took control of the game with several opportunities from Lacazette, Cherki or Jeffinho, in particular.

Maxence Caqueret gave the advantage to his team after a beautiful individual action of Rayan Cherki who should have scored the goal himself (57) but the latter finally scored, on the right side, a very nice goal of a curled shot from the left, to bring the score to 3-1 (78).

In the end, Lyon won a deserved success that gives a little more relief to the tributes of the public to the former president of the club, Jean-Michel Aulas, dismissed from his post on May 5 by the American owner of OL, John Textor.

© 2023 AFP