With just two games to play for many teams across Europe, the race for a European finish is beginning to heat up. In Ligue 1, the battle for an automatic Champions League place could well be decided by the close of play on Saturday. Lyon host Monaco in a straight shoot out for second place. Lyon come into the fixture on a nine-match unbeaten run having dropped points just twice in that time.
Furthermore, OL are in fine form on home turf having dropped just four points of a possible 27 in front of their fans. In the final home game of the season, they will look to cheer their team onto victory against a Monaco outfit that has responded well following back-to-back defeats. Leonardo Jardim’s side are unbeaten in three following a minor dip and hope to continue this form in Lyon.
However, while Monaco have been in good form of late, Les Rouges et Blancs have been laborious on their travels. Indeed, one victory from their last seven does not bode well in a game they need to win. Monaco have an inferior goal difference (+10) compared to Lyon (+22) and know that victory is essential coming into the penultimate game of this Ligue 1 campaign.
Similarly for Nice and Saint-Etienne, just one point separates the pair in France’s top tier with the duo vying for a top-four finish. Nice have been in fine form on home turf in recent weeks, landing four successive victories, though Saint-Etienne have lost only one of their last six on their travels. Saint-Etienne currently sit one point above Nice in the table and know if they can avoid defeat, they will be firmly in the driving seat to secure fourth.
Previous meetings between the two bode well, with Saint-Etienne losing just one of their last six visits to the Allianz Riviera. Nice, though, will hope Hatem Ben Arfa can given the fans a final home victory of the season on his last home appearance for the club. The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the campaign on the back of an impressive 12 months for Nice.
17 goals and a further five assists has contributed to Ben Arfa’s impressive WhoScored rating of 7.58 in Ligue 1 this season, with his performances not going unnoticed amidst reports that a move to Barcelona is close. If the attacker plays to his potential, Nice stand a much stronger chance of attaining the result needed to leapfrog Saint-Etienne in the table.
In England, meanwhile, the Premier League title may have been decided already, but there is still plenty to play for at the top of the league. Manchester City’s Champions League exit in midweek means they will look to bounce back in front of their own fans in a bid to leapfrog Arsenal. City host the Gunners in Sunday’s late kick off knowing a win would pull them level on points with their Premier League rivals.
Given City’s superior goal difference (+30) to Arsenal’s (+25), victory would see them move above the Gunners in the Premier League table. This would have huge implications on who finishes second in England’s top tier with City six points and Arsenal three behind Tottenham.
Spurs come into their meeting with Southampton following back-to-back draws with West Brom and Chelsea. Should they avoid defeat to Saints, the ball is firmly in their court as to whether they secure second place this season. The absences of key midfielders Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele, though, makes their welcome of Saints a far more daunting proposition.
Ronald Koeman's side have landed back-to-back 4-2 wins over Aston Villa and City, which will have boosted morale ahead of the tough trip to Spurs. Saints still have an outside chance of a European finish and have what it takes to upset the odds at White Hart Lane, particularly with Alli and Dembele suspended for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Click here to head to WhoScored's preview page for more stats ahead of the weekend's action
