“It would be professional misconduct not to be third by 11 PM on Sunday.” Lille defender Thomas Meunier’s firm statement set the tone following their crucial 0-1 away victory against Monaco, a result that propelled Lille onto the Ligue 1 podium with just one matchday remaining. It is hard to argue with his assessment. LOSC currently has one foot firmly in the Champions League, and on paper, they are set to face a lower-ranked team, seemingly an inferior opponent.

However, nothing is guaranteed until the Dogues complete their mission this Sunday evening against Auxerre on the final day of the championship. This decisive encounter will be broadcast live from 9 PM in a special duplex on Ici Nord, featuring commentary by Thomas Lavaud.

Lyon and Rennes in ambush

The Lillois squad holds all the cards to conclude this season in the most favorable manner. A win guarantees their Champions League qualification. Should LOSC fail to secure a victory, they will need to closely monitor the outcomes of their primary rivals. Lyon sits immediately behind Lille, trailing by a single point, while Rennes is in fifth place, two points adrift. Olympique Lyonnais will face their local rivals Lens, and Rennes will be on the road against Marseille. In the worst-case scenario for Lille (a defeat for the northern club coupled with victories for both Lyon and Rennes), Lille would finish 5th, securing a spot in the Europa League. This is a prospect no one associated with the club wishes to see unfold.