2023/24 Ligue 1 Roundup, Matchday 34: Lyon defeat Strasbourg to secure a spot in Europe

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Ligue 1 Roundup, Matchday 34

Here is a summary of the games that took place during Matchday 34 of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season over the weekend, focusing on thrilling matches, surprising results, and impressive player performances.

Toulouse 0-3 Brest

Brest has secured their first-ever Champions League qualification and will also mark their 200th top-flight victory at the end-of-season celebration following a convincing 3-0 win over Toulouse. Kenny Lala scored a fortunate third goal for Brest in the 90th minute, with his deflected shot leaving Restes unable to make a save. This victory extends Brest’s unbeaten record against Toulouse to six matches, capping off a memorable season for the team. On the other hand, Toulouse’s winless streak in front of their fans, which has lasted since the start of March, ultimately prevented them from finishing in the top half in the 2023/24 season.

Jordan Amavi celebrates his goal during the Ligue 1 match between Toulouse and Brest at Stadium Municipal.
Jordan Amavi celebrates his goal during the Ligue 1 match between Toulouse and Brest at Stadium Municipal.

Reims 2-1 Rennes

Reims defeated Rennes 2-1 at Stade Auguste-Delaune to secure a win in the final league game of the season for the first time in four years. This victory allowed them to surpass Rennes in the Ligue 1 standings and finish ninth. Rennes suffered their 12th loss of the season, marking the eighth consecutive top-flight campaign where they have lost exactly twelve games, except for the 2019/20 season. Despite already knowing they would miss out on a European appearance for the first time in seven seasons, this defeat added further disappointment for Rennes.

Monaco 4-0 Nantes

Monaco concluded their Ligue 1 season on a positive note by defeating Nantes 4-0, marking their best season in six years. Adi Hütter’s team quickly secured a three-goal lead within 24 minutes at Stade Louis II, as Nantes seemed to have eased off after securing their spot in the top division. This victory placed Monaco nine points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain, showcasing their strong finish to the season. Meanwhile, Nantes finished in 14th place, just four points above the relegation zone, with their five-game winless streak at the end of the season being their worst form in a year.

Monaco players congratulate Mohamed Camara after he scored during the Ligue 1 match between AS Monaco and FC Nantes at the Louis II Stadium.
Monaco players congratulate Mohamed Camara after he scored during the Ligue 1 match between AS Monaco and FC Nantes at the Louis II Stadium.

Metz 0-2 PSG

Metz narrowly avoided automatic relegation to Ligue 2 despite a 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Municipal Saint-Symphorien. This defeat marked their 14th consecutive loss against the capital team. Fortunately, Les Grenats managed to survive by a slim margin as Lorient also secured a victory in their match. However, Metz is not yet officially safe as they now have to compete against AS Saint-Étienne in a two-legged play-off for a spot in the top division next season. On the other hand, PSG will shift their focus to the cup final against Lyon, aiming to give Mbappé a fitting farewell in his last game for the club.

Lyon 2-1 Strasbourg

Lyon finished their impressive Ligue 1 season with a dramatic 96th-minute goal that secured them a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League. They defeated RC Strasbourg 2-1, while RC Lens drew with Montpellier. The game saw several key moments, including a missed penalty by Strasbourg and a VAR decision that overturned a penalty call for Lyon. Ultimately, Lyon capitalized on a late penalty kick converted by Lacazette to secure the victory. This win sets Lyon up for a potential success in the upcoming Coupe de France final. On the other hand, Strasbourg concluded their season with only one win in their last five matches.

Alexandre Lacazette celebrates with Clinton Mata after scoring during the Ligue 1 match between Lyon and Strasbourg at the Groupama Stadium.
Alexandre Lacazette celebrates with Clinton Mata after scoring during the Ligue 1 match between Lyon and Strasbourg at the Groupama Stadium.

Lorient 5-0 Clermont

FC Lorient’s impressive attempt to avoid automatic relegation from Ligue 1 was unsuccessful despite a 5-0 victory over Clermont Foot, who were already relegated. Unfortunately, Metz’s better head-to-head away goals record ended Lorient’s four-season run in the top division. Lorient pushed for more goals and managed to score a fifth when Dieng tapped in at the far post. The final whistle blew, but Lorient’s relegation was confirmed by the narrowest of margins, as Metz had scored three away goals earlier in the season.

Lille 2-2 OGC Nice

Lille did not secure a direct spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage after tying 2-2 with OGC Nice. Instead, they had to settle for a play-off position as Brest won 3-0 against Toulouse. This outcome led to Lille finishing in fourth place, which was an improvement from last season’s fifth-place finish. Despite the disappointment, Nice ended the season in fifth place and secured a spot in the UEFA Europa League for the next season.

OGC Nice players celebrate during the Ligue 1 match between Lille and Nice at the Pierre Mauroy stadium.
OGC Nice players celebrate during the Ligue 1 match between Lille and Nice at the Pierre Mauroy stadium.

RC Lens 2-2 Montpellier

RC Lens narrowly missed out on qualifying for the UEFA Europa Conference League after drawing 2-2 with Montpellier HSC. This allowed Lyon to surpass them and claim sixth place in Ligue 1 on the final day of the season. Despite late attempts by Morgan Guilavogui and Wahi, the home team appeared more focused on securing a draw, ultimately costing them a spot in European competition. While Lens did secure a top-seven finish for the fourth consecutive season, missing out on European football was disappointing. Montpellier, on the other hand, finished in 12th place, the same position as the previous season but with fewer points.

Le Havre 1-2 Marseille

Marseille’s hopes for European qualification were dashed despite their 2-1 victory over Le Havre, who managed to secure their place in Ligue 1 despite the loss. This defeat marked Le Havre’s only win in 23 previous matches against Marseille. Amir Murillo’s goal in the 77th minute seemed to seal the win for Marseille, but Mohamed Bayo’s late penalty goal narrowed the gap. However, Bayo’s goal in the 97th minute came too late to make a difference. Luka Elsner’s team finished in 15th place, while Marseille, settling for eighth place, will now face scrutiny for missing out on European competition.

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