Ligue 1 final day: Lille, PSG & Monaco battle for French title

Christophe Galtier’s Lille lead Ligue 1, a point ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG and three ahead of Niko Kovac’s Monaco

It’s the final weekend of the top-flight season in France, with a gripping finale expected to decide who will be crowned champions of Ligue 1.

The top three – Lille, Paris St-Germain and Monaco – are separated by three points.

Leaders Lille are one point ahead of PSG going into Sunday’s final round of matches – which all kick off at 20:00 BST – and are one win away from taking the crown for the first time since 2010-11.

Here BBC Sport sets the scene for what promises to be a nail-biting last day.

Will Lille hold on?

Three teams separated by three points with one game to play – will Lille hold on and end Paris St-Germain’s dominance?

PSG have won Ligue 1 seven times in the previous eight seasons – Monaco were champions in 2016-17 – but start the final day on 79 points, one behind leaders Lille.

Last season PSG were awarded the title after it was announced the season would not resume because of the coronavirus pandemic. At the time they were 12 points clear of nearest rivals Marseille who had 10 games left.

On Sunday, only a win will guarantee Lille are crowned champions, but this fascinating title race could still see the top three all finish on 80 points if Lille lose, PSG draw and Monaco win.

Goal difference could decide the title. That would favour Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG, who have the advantage over their two title rivals.

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Captain Jose Fonte, the former Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham defender, told BBC Sport it would be a magnificent achievement for Lille to win the title.

“Although we don’t have a Neymar or Mbappe or superstars on massive wages who can score 20 or 30 goals a season, we have a team,” he said.

“Hopefully we can finish the job and have this fantastic story to remember for the rest of our lives.”

LILLE	PARIS ST-GERMAIN	MONACO
Angers (away) – 12th in the table	Brest (away) – 16th in the table	Lens (away) – 6th in the table

Lille will be confident of finishing the job at 12th-placed Angers.

At the same time, PSG are at relegation-threatened Brest and Monaco are away to sixth-placed Lens.

PSG head into the weekend fresh from winning the French Cup for the sixth time in seven years by beating Monaco at Stade de France – Pochettino’s second trophy since taking charge in January.

Monaco need both Lille and PSG to lose if they are to snatch the title. Even then, they require a big win at Lens because of their inferior goal difference.