Two sides still left with plenty to fight for on the final day of the Ligue 1 season lock horns at the Orange Velodrome on Saturday night, as Marseille face off against Strasbourg.
The hosts will seal a top-three finish with just a point on their own turf, while Julien Stephan's side have not given up hope of a place in the Europa League.
Match preview
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Despite recovering from the Europa Conference League heartbreak in ideal fashion against Lorient, Marseille's final away game of the season saw them easily put to the sword by Rennes, who crucially kept their Champions League hopes alive with a 2-0 success.
Benjamin Bourigeaud and Lovro Majer both slotted home in the first half from a pair of Martin Terrier assists - the prolific Frenchman this time turning provider for his teammates - and Marseille's spot in the Champions League is yet to be secured.
At one stage, Jorge Sampaoli's side were seemingly cruising towards a second-placed finish behind runaway champions Paris Saint-Germain, but Monaco have since overtaken the third-placed Olympiens on goal difference in the table, and defeat in Saturday's final game would open the door for Rennes to leapfrog them into the top three.
However, Marseille's Champions League destiny remains in their own hands, and a draw would be enough to see them dine at Europe's top table next term, but winning just one of their last five games in all competitions is hardly a confidence-boosting run of form.
Sampaoli's side have also been anything but consistent on home soil this season, and with a devastating injury to star man Dimitri Payet to work around, Marseille's clash with Strasbourg will not be the walk in the park the form book would have suggested 12 months ago.
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The magic that Julien Stephan has woven at Strasbourg was not enough to see him award the Manager of the Year accolade - that title went to his Rennes replacement Bruno Genesio - but the Coureurs boss now has the chance to pip his former club to the post on the final day.
Both sets of players were celebrating at the end of Strasbourg's clash with Clermont last Saturday, with Adrien Thomasson's header sealing a 1-0 win for Stephan's side, while results elsewhere meant that their visitors were safe from the drop.
Strasbourg will begin the final day just about clinging onto fifth spot by the skin of their teeth, but Nice and Lens can still usurp Les Coureurs into the Conference League Qualifying spot, with the former away to Reims while Les Sang et Or take on Monaco.
Les Aiglons are only behind Stephan's side on goal difference, but losing just one of their 15 Ligue 1 games since February certainly spells optimism for this weekend's visitors to the Orange Velodrome, even if a tally of one win from their last six away from home may lower expectations somewhat.
Marseille eased to a 2-0 win at the Stade de la Meinau earlier this term to extend their unbeaten league run against Strasbourg to 12 games since a 1-0 loss in April 2005, and it has been 25 years since Les Coureurs won away in the league against Marseille, but the absence of Payet could threaten that stellar streak for the hosts here.
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Team News
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Arsenal loanee William Saliba was crowned Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season following his stellar progress in the Marseille backline, but the 21-year-old will miss the final day of the season owing to suspension.
Leonardo Balerdi's season-ending shoulder injury is far from ideal with Saliba now out of contention, while Payet is also confirmed to be missing out owing to his calf injury alongside Konrad de la Fuente.
Saliba's absence could see Sampaoli forced to partner Luan Peres with Duje Caleta-Car in the heart of defence, in turn allowing Sead Kolasinac to start at left-back for the hosts.
Strasbourg's defence has also been hit by a suspension ahead of this game, with Dimitri Lienard banned for an accumulation of yellow cards as Anthony Caci prepares to deputise in the backline.
Lucas Perrin's permanent move to the club from Marseille was confirmed earlier this week, but the defender missed the win over Clermont due to sickness and may not be available here either, while Abdul Majeed Waris and Nordine Kandil are both still injured.
Stephan is once again under pressure to select the right attacking formula, and Habib Diallo may be the one left on the bench as Ludovic Ajorque returns alongside Kevin Gameiro.
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Rongier, Saliba, Peres, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Kamara, Gerson; Under, Dieng, Harit
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Sels; Guilbert, Djiku, Le Marchand, Nyamsi, Caci; Prcic, Bellegarde; Thomasson; Ajorque, Gameiro
We say: Marseille 1-1 Strasbourg
Marseille's levels of creative ingenuity and attacking incisiveness decrease dramatically when Payet is not on the pitch, and Strasbourg would do well to capitalise on this opportunity at a ground where the hosts have not enjoyed a strong period of success.
That being said, Stephan's side have not dominated many games in recent memory and have developed an affinity for draws on the road, so we can envisage this battle ending all square as Marseille clinch a top-three spot, while Strasbourg will nervously learn of results elsewhere.
For additional data used by our team to analyse our suggested result please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
