Lille, Brest and Monaco secure Champions League qualification

Three out of the four Ligue 1 clubs involved in the Champions League have secured their spot for the latter stages of the competition. Lille, Brest and Monaco are now mathematically certain to, at least, qualify for the playoffs rounds, which will take place in February. The fourth French team, serial Ligue 1 champions PSG, have still a long way to go as they sit 27th with only seven points. Les Parisiens will host Manchester City this Wednesday.

With 13 points each, Brest, Lille and Monaco are certain to not finish lower than 24th in the Champions League standings. Adi Hütter’s Monégasques needed a win this Tuesday against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa to qualify for the playoffs and the Ligue 1 team duly obliged, courtesy of Wilfried Singo’s first-half header. Monaco will conclude their league phase next week away at Inter.

Despite tonight’s loss at table-topping Liverpool, Lille retain a chance to skip the playoffs and directly qualify for the RO16, but Bruno Genesio’s side will, at least, need a win for their final game, at home against Feyenoord. As surprising as it is, the Ligue 1 team with the best shot at reaching the RO16 are European newcomers Brest. The Bretons are currently ninth with two games to spare. They face 28th-placed FC Shakhtar this Wednesday at Gelsenkirchen before next week’s mouthwatering finale: Champions League champions Real Madrid at home.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval