We have not seen a Ligue 1 title race like this in a long time.
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France has been Paris Saint-Germain’s playground for a while now, but not only is Mauricio Pochettino’s side facing an uphill climb to keep his crown, but there are three other sides vying for the ultimate glory.
With seven games left to play, everything is still up in the air – so it’s just right to take a look at each side’s run-in and see who’s favorite to come out on top.
Lille has a cord on top | FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / Getty Images
Remaining matches:
Metz vs. Small (09/04)Small against Montpellier (16/04) Lyon against Small (25/04)Small vs. Nice (02/05) Lens vs. Small (09/05) Saint-Etienne vs. Small (16/05)Small against Angers (23/05)
Lille has everything in their hands after beating PSG, but that trip to Lyon is huge. It is easily the toughest test in the calendar for Lille, who must also travel to the fifth-placed lens and host the seventh-placed Montpellier.
Les Dogue’s fixture list is actually pretty tough. Saint-Etienne and 11th placed Nice are their only remaining opponents in the lower half of the table, so there are plenty of opportunities for Lille to slide up.
On the last day of the season, Lille will host Angers, who are just one of three sides that will give them a defeat this year. Of course, they will still be favorites, but this is a tricky run-in.
PSG have work to do JEFF PACHOUD / Getty Images
Remaining matches:
Strasbourg vs. PSG (10/04)PSG against Saint-Etienne (18/04) Metz vs. PSG (24/04)PSG vs. Lens (02/05) Rennes vs. PSG (09/05)PSG vs. Reims (16/05) Brest vs. PSG (23/05)
What’s the point of even trying to predict how PSG will play this season? They are favorites when they face almost any team on the planet, but they seem to love throwing us basket balls with their performances.
Pochettino’s men have no more encounters with any of their rivals – the fifth-placed lens is their biggest threat on paper – and they will face a handful of fighters. Reims, Strasbourg, Saint-Etienne and Brest are all in the bottom half of the table, so it should be easy to choose.
You can conceivably see PSG win all these matches, which will give the Parisians confidence during the last weeks of the promotion.
Monaco is in glowing form | VALERY HACHE / Getty Images
Remaining matches:
Monaco against Dijon (11/04) Bordeaux vs. Monaco (18/04) Angers vs. Monaco (25/04)Monaco against Lyon (02/05) Reims vs. Monaco (09/05)Monaco vs. Rennes (16/05) Lens vs. Monaco (23/05)
Four sides in the lower half, four sides in the upper half.
It’s a mixed bag for Monaco. They may be above all their remaining opponents, but Niko Kovac’s side must navigate tricky meetings with Lyon, Lens and Rennes if they are to have any hope of overthrowing either Lille or PSG.
With just one loss in 2021 under their belt, Monaco are clearly in electric form and will think against anyone, but they would undoubtedly have preferred a slightly friendlier run-in.
Lyon may have too much to do Catherine Steenkeste / Getty Images
Remaining matches:
Lyon against Angers (11/04) Nantes against Lyon (18/04)Lyon against Lille (25/04) Monaco against Lyon (02/05)Lyon against Lorient (09/05) Nimes vs. Lyon (16/05)Lyon against Nice (23/05)
Lyon will have plenty of chances to pick up a few easy points, but the back-to-back with Lille and Monaco will tell you almost everything we need to know about Lyon’s title jump.
Away from these two comes Lyons ‘second biggest test in the form of Angers’ tenth placed, with five of their remaining seven opponents in the bottom half. Three of them are in the bottom four.
Lyon can expect to have the chance until the last day, but their hopes can rest on beating Monaco and Lille. They can go five to five elsewhere, so keep an eye on them.
Of the four, it is PSG with the friendliest run-in. They are far ahead of all their remaining opponents in the table, and although there is obviously no concrete evidence that they will beat them all, there is reason for Pochettino to be quite happy with where they are right now.
Both Lille and Monaco face tricky schedules, but it is Lyon who can have the biggest role in deciding who goes away with the trophy. Rudi Garcia’s side must face both in how they look like they are just two real tests, so victories in both can set them up for a dramatic final.
Truth be told, it is impossible to say for sure who will come out on top. PSG probably has the best chance, but you can easily make an argument that one of these wins the main prize. Of all the title races in Europe, this is the one to see.
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