This Thursday, three French clubs entered in the European Cups will have the opportunity to finish in first place in their group. Marseille, Rennes (Europa League) and Lille (Europa Conference League) will meet Brighton, Villarreal and Klaksvik respectively. For its part, Toulouse will have to bring back at least one point from its trip to Austria against Linz to validate its 2nd place and its qualification for the 16th round of C3. Third in its Champions League group after its victory against Sevilla FC, RC Lens is officially transferred to the Europa League.
Marseille wants to extend the improvement
Undefeated on the European scene (3 wins, 2 draws), OM, in a clear upturn in form in Ligue 1 (3 wins in a row and a 6th place), visit their runner-up Brighton this Thursday evening (9 p.m. M 6 and Canal + Sport). In the event of a draw or victory, Gennaro Gattuso’s players will retain their first place and advance directly to the round of 16, a first since the 2017-2018 season, where they failed in the final against Antoine Griezmann’s Atlético de Madrid (3-0). The Phocaeans have four consecutive victories in all competitions and they can count on a fiery Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, author of 7 goals in the same number of matches.
The ranking: 1. Marseille, 11 points; 2. Brighton, 10 points; 3. AEK Athens, 4 points; 4. Ajax Amsterdam, 2 points.
A historic qualification for the TFC?
Sick in the league (15th), Toulouse has only had the European Cup to comfort its supporters since the start of the season. The Occitan club travels to Austria to face Linz this Thursday (6:45 p.m., RMC Sport 3). In the first leg, Carles Martinez Novell’s players won on their pitch thanks to a goal from Suazo (1-0). It will only take a small point to allow the Violets to validate their 2nd place behind Liverpool and thus reach the round of 16. A defeat by a goal difference could also be enough for them under certain conditions.
The ranking: 1. Liverpool, 12 points; 2. Toulouse, 8 points; 3. Union Saint-Gilloise, 5 points; 4. Linz, 3 points.
Top match in Rennes
Like Toulouse, Rennes is mired in the crisis in Ligue 1 (13th), but is keeping its head above water thanks to the Europa League. Julien Stéphan’s men host Villarreal this Thursday at Roazhon Park (6:45 p.m., RMC Sport UHD, RMC Sport 1) for a summit match, which will see one of the two teams finish at the head of group F. During the first leg in October, the Bretons lost by the smallest of margins against the Yellow Submarine (1-0). If they don’t lose at home, they will cancel their ticket for the 8th.
The ranking: 1. Stade Rennais, 12 points; 2. Villarreal, 10 points; 3. Panathinaikos, 4 points; 4. Maccabi Haifa, 2 points.
Losc must finish the job
The only French representative in the Europa Conference League, Lille is leader of its group but will have to cope without Jonathan David, injured in his calf. With a success, or if Bratislava does not beat Ljubljana, the Mastiffs have the opportunity to retain their first place and qualify directly for the round of 16. They host Klaksvik this Thursday (9 p.m., RMC Sport UHD, RMC Sport 1). Third with four points on the clock, the Faroese club is already guaranteed to be eliminated from all European competition. Benjamin André’s teammates had been pushed around in the first leg and had failed to bring back more than a point for the Faroe Islands (0-0).
The classification: 1. Lille, 11 points; 2. Slovan Bratislava, 10 points; 3. Klaksvik, 4 points; 4. Ljubljana, 3 points.
