Five teams, two Champions League spots, Monaco in the chase | OneFootball

With nine matches left, five sides are chasing two Champions League berths behind PSG and Lens, who are contesting the title, and Monaco are surging.

According to Nice-Matin, form, fixtures and frailties will shape the run-in for Marseille, Lyon, Rennes, Lille and Monaco.

Marseille are third on 46 points under new boss Habib Beye, with two league wins and one defeat. Defensive issues persist, Nayef Aguerd is out after groin surgery and they had been conceding two per match before a 1-0 at Toulouse. Five home fixtures could help.

Lyon are fourth on 46 and visit Celta Vigo in the Europa League tonight. Their 13-game streak is over, injuries bite and Endrick’s end product has dipped. They face only two direct rivals but must also meet PSG and Lens.

Rennes are fifth on 43 after four straight wins and three clean sheets. The 4-3-3 used by interim Sébastien Tambouret to beat PSG has been retained by the former Nice coach, with Al-Tamari and Nordin flanking Lepaul. Embolo and Blas add impact, though wobbles still surface.

Lille are sixth, with only two wins in nine and just 0.56 goals per game since 14 December. A heavy schedule, including Aston Villa tonight, meets a run-in weighted away and five top-half opponents, and workload could tax 39-year-old Giroud, involved in 18.5% of their goals.

Monaco are seventh, unbeaten in seven with four league wins to cut a former 10-point gap to six after a 3-1 loss to Lorient. A Kehrer-Zakaria-Faes back three has settled, but hamstring injuries to Vanderson and Henrique, with the right-back to have surgery, leave Sébastien Pocognoli juggling as Ouattara returns and Diatta could follow.

Source: Nice-Matin