Lille Secure Ligue 1 Title

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Lille last night secured their first Ligue 1 title in 56 years after a 2-2 draw away at PSG.

Lille got off to a great start when Ludovic Obraniak opened the scoring in the 4th minute, however PSG pegged them back just before half-time thanks to a goal from Guillaume Hoarau.

Lille’s task was made a little easier at the start of the second half when PSG goalscorer Hoarau was sent off. With 30 minutes remaining Lille took the lead after a goal from the leagues top goalscorer Moussa Sow.

However PSG who are still fighting for a place in next seasons Champions League fought back and levelled the game in the 73rd minute thanks to a goal from Mathieu Bodmer.

The game finished 2-2 which was enough to keep Lille six points clear of Marseille with just one game remaining. Marseile could only manage a 2-2 draw away at Valenciennes.

Lyon had the opportunity to seal 3rd place and a place in next seasons Champions League but only managed a goal-less draw at home to Caen which means that Lyon and PSG will fight it out on the last weekend of the season to claim a spot in Europe.

Championnat National Preview 13th May

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It is an interesting night in the Championnat National tonight. With the end of the season only a couple of games away there is a lot that can be decided in the coming hours.

Second placed Amiens entertain 3rd placed Guingamp tonight and depending on the outcome of this game and the outcome of the game featuring Strasbourg, both Amiens and Guingamp could be promoted this evening.

Amiens need just a point from tonight’s game to seal promotion, they can also be promoted if Strasbourg fail to win their game. For Guingamp it is a little more complicated, they need to beat Amiens and Strasbourg have to lose away at Rouen, this would also result in both teams being promoted back to Ligue 2.

It still remains very tight at the bottom of the table with around six teams trying to stay out of the three remaining relegation spots.

It should make for an interesting evening of football for the teams at the top and squeaky bums for the teams at the bottom.

Full Fixtures:

19:00 ALFORTVILLE U PARIS FC
19:00 AMIENS GUINGAMP
19:00 BEAUVAIS PLABENNEC
19:00 CRETEIL COLMAR
19:00 LUZENAC BASTIA
19:00 ORLEANS NIORT
19:00 PACY SUR EURE GAP HAUTES-ALPES FC
19:00 RODEZ CANNES
19:00 ROUEN STRASBOURG

* Kick off times are GMT!

Amiens & Guingamp Miss Chance To Move Clear

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It was a night of missed opportunity in the Championnat National this evening.

Amiens had the opportunity to seal promotion to Ligue 2 when they faced 4th placed Strasbourg this evening but the promotion outsiders held them to a 1-1 draw which means Amiens will have to wait until Friday for another shot at promotion when they face Cannes.

Guingamp were also looking to strengthen their promotion position but were also held to a 1-1  away at mid-table Luzenac. Already promoted Bastia beat already relegated Alfortville 4-0 to put themselves 8 points clear of second placed Amiens and look set to win the league this season.

Elsewhere Cannes missed the chance to close the gap at the top after being held 1-1 away at Orleans.

It turned out to be an evening of draws that has failed to settle any of the promotion and relegation battles. Creteil, Pacy, Frejus and Bastia were the only teams to pick up all three points tonight.

Results:

Luzenac 1 – 1 Guingamp
Créteil 4 – 2 Niort
Pacy Vallée-d’Eure 2 – 1 Colmar
Fréjus St-Raphaël 3 – 1 Paris
Beauvais 1 – 1 Gap
Orléans 1 – 1 Cannes
Alfortville 0 – 4 Bastia
Rodez 0 – 0 Bayonne
Amiens SC 1 – 1 Strasbourg

Lille Look To Put Pressure Back On Marseille

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Lille are looking to put the pressure back on Ligue 1 leaders Marseille tonight when they host relegated Arles-Avignon. Marseille moved a point clear at the top of the table on Wednesday night thanks to a 4-2 win over OGC Nice. Despite finding themselves in second place with six games left, Lille manager Rudi Garcia insists his men will be fighting hard to secure their first league triumph since 1954.

“It was always going to be likely they went top, but what counts now is how we react,” Garcia said after his side lost the lead for the first time since December.

“Ultimately, we have to win all our matches. But there are six games left and we will have the chance to be leaders again.”

Arles have little to play for on Saturday, after they were condemned to a season in Ligue 2 on April 17 with a 1-0 loss at home to Valenciennes.

But Lille – who were held to a 1-1 draw at Lorient in their last league game – could be without Ligue 1′s top scorer Moussa Sow, who has tendonitis.

Marseille, meanwhile, can expect a tougher examination when they host Auxerre on Sunday.

In tonight’s other games, Lens need three points from their home clash with Lorient if they are to have any hope of avoiding the drop, while fourth-placed Paris Saint Germain host Valenciennes, who are in 12th spot.

Jean Tigana’s Bordeaux side need a win from their trip to Stade Rennes if they are to keep their Europa League hopes alive, while Sochaux take on Nancy looking to put some breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone.

Joining Marseille and Auxerre in action on Sunday, 10th meets 11th when Montpellier play host to Brest, and Caen will hope to move out of the bottom three when they travel to OGC Nice.

Lyon, who are third, will hope to keep the pressure on the leading duo when they visit Toulouse, and Saint-Etienne host struggling Monaco in Sunday’s late game.

Championnat National Preview 30th April

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There is a full card of Championnat National fixtures tonight. The pick of the games however has to be Amiens vs Strasbourg.

Amiens currently sit second in the table and Strasbourg lie two places below them in 4th. A win for Amiens tonight would see them promoted to Ligue 2, however a win for Strasbourg would make things very close at the top. Strasbourg are the only team that look capable of stopping Amiens and Guingamp achieving promotion this season which makes tonights meeting at Stade de la Licorne vital for both teams.

Guingamp will be hoping for an Amiens victory tonight but they will need to take all the points from their game at Luzenac if they want to continue their strong promotion push. Guingamp are on fire at the moment scoring an impressive 11 goals in two games, they also have the leagues top goalscorer in Thibault Giresse who has scored 19 goals this season.

Nothing can be decided at the bottom of the table today but there are seven teams who are all fighting to stay out of the three remaining relegation spots. With games running out teams need to pick up points and fast if they are to avoid relegation.

The pick of the games at the bottom of the table is Rodez vs Bayonne. Rodex currently sit 16th in the table, one place above tonights opponents and the relegation zone. The winner of tonights tie will put them in a great position to secure their future in the National for next season.

Fixtures:

17:00 CRETEIL –  NIORT
17:00 LUZENAC –  GUINGAMP
17:00 PACY SUR EURE –  COLMAR
18:00 FREJUS-SAINT-RAPHAEL –  PARIS FC
19:00 ALFORTVILLE – BASTIA
19:00 AMIENS –  STRASBOURG
19:00 BEAUVAIS –  GAP
19:00 ORLEANS –  CANNES
19:00 RODEZ –  BAYONNE

All times at GMT.