The Game Turned Late
Lille finished the Ligue 1 season in third place to secure a berth in next season's Champions League despite losing 2-0 at home to Auxerre on the final day.
The result left Lille one point above Lyon, which will enter Champions League qualifying. Three clubs could have claimed third place before Sunday's final round of matches, but Lille held on to seal the coveted spot.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
Mali forward Lassine Sinayoko scored a brace for Auxerre, ensuring his team would remain in the top flight and avoid the relegation playoff.
"This is not the match we wanted to play, but the main thing is that we finish third. It's the reward for a whole season," Lille captain Benjamin Andre said. "Everybody wants to play in the Champions League."
The Small Details Added Up
Lyon saw its hopes of finishing third quickly fade after trailing by three goals before halftime at home against Lens. Florian Thauvin added another goal in the second half as Lens won 4-0.
Marseille beat Rennes 3-1 with goals from Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, Amine Gouiri and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Esteban Lepaul reduced the deficit with his 21st goal this season. The win lifted Marseille to fifth place, level on points with Rennes but with a better goal difference, earning a spot in the Europa League.
In Paris, PSG concluded its domestic season with a 2-1 loss to neighbor Paris FC. Bradley Barcola put PSG in front before Alimami Gory leveled in the 76th minute and completed his brace in added time. PSG had already sealed its 14th league title on Wednesday and was knocked out of the French Cup by Paris FC in January.
PSG will now prepare for the Champions League final against Arsenal on May 30 at Puskas Arena in Budapest.
The Table Looks Different
Nice drew 0-0 with last-place Metz to finish 16th and will face Saint-Etienne in a promotion-relegation playoff. Strasbourg produced a comeback to beat Monaco 5-4 after trailing 4-1 in the 55th minute.
Veteran Nantes coach Vahid Halilhodzic saw his final match end in abandonment as fans stormed the field after the club's relegation to the second division was confirmed. The 74-year-old Halilhodzic is retiring after returning to Nantes in March.