Ligue 1: Saint-Etienne faces must-win match to avoid relegation
Paris Saint Germain’s Ousmane Dembele arrives at the UNFP (French player’s union) Trophies ceremony in Paris, France, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
PARIS (AP) — With Paris Saint-Germain already crowned champion and Marseille and Monaco assured of Champions League spots next season, Ligue 1’s attention turns to the race to avoid relegation on the final matchday.
At the bottom of the standings, last-placed Montpellier has been demoted. Who joins Montpellier will be decided between Saint-Etienne and Le Havre.
Saint-Etienne dominated French soccer during the 1960s and ’70s. Having just returned to the top flight, the 10-time French champion has struggled despite brilliant individual efforts from Zuriko Davitashvili and Lucas Stassin.
Le Havre has won three French championships, the last in 1919. It has been in the top flight for two seasons and sits in the relegation playoffs spot at 16th.
Le Havre is one point ahead of Saint-Etienne, and finishes at Strasbourg on Saturday. At the same time, Saint-Etienne is home to Toulouse.
“We can win this last match and still be relegated,” Saint-Etienne coach Eirik Horneland said. “We’re going to have to create an incredible atmosphere and take the fans with us.”
Two others, Reims and Nantes, have yet to secure their place in the elite. Both are two points ahead of Le Havre. Nantes hosts Montpellier, and Reims travels to Lille.
Top scorer race
PSG striker Ousmane Dembélé is in a good position to succeed his former teammate Kylian Mbappé as the league’s top scorer.
Dembélé has 21 goals, two more than Marseille’s Mason Greenwood. Behind them, Rennes forward Arnaud Kalimuendo has 17.
Dembélé was named the league’s best player of the season and was among the favorites for the Ballon d’Or. He has been prolific since PSG coach Luis Enrique repositioned him in a false nine role — a center forward who, instead of leading his team’s offensive line, drops into deeper positions.
PSG won a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title with six games to spare, and plays its final match at home against Auxerre. Second-placed Marseille hosts Rennes. Monaco, one point behind Marseille, travels to Lens.
PSG is hoping for its first ever treble. In addition to the Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 31, Enrique’s team plays Reims in the French Cup final on May 24.
Champions League qualifying
The final spot in the Champions League is the last big prize up for grabs on Saturday.
Nice, Lille, Strasbourg and Lyon all lost on the penultimate matchday and can no longer secure a top-three finish. All four are battling for fourth place and the ticket to the third preliminary round of Europe’s elite tournament.
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