Marseille secures CL place

Marseille clinched automatic qualification for next season's Champions League group stage on a final night of the French Ligue 1 season on Saturday that was dramatic beyond the announcement that Kylian Mbappe was staying at Paris Saint-Germain.

Marseille began the day in third spot－which only offered a place in the Champions League third qualifying round－behind Monaco on goal difference, meaning it needed to better the principality club's result to finish second as they each completed their campaigns.

The 1993 Champions League winner duly fulfilled its part of the bargain as it crushed Strasbourg 4-0 at a packed Velodrome with Brazilian international Gerson scoring twice either side of a Cengiz Under goal before Cedric Bakambu wrapped up the victory late on.

Seconds after that goal went in, bedlam ensued among the 60,000-plus home supporters as news filtered through that Monaco had conceded an injury-time goal to draw 2-2 at Lens.

Monaco had been in mid-table before surging into contention on a run of nine consecutive victories, and looked set to make it 10 in a row as it came from behind in Lens to lead 2-1 thanks to goals by Benoit Badiashile and Wissam Ben Yedder.

But Ignatius Ganago struck in the sixth minute of injury time to earn Lens a draw and deny Monaco, which finishes third and will have to come through two qualifying rounds to make next season's Champions League group stage.

Marseille joins champion PSG in the Champions League proper－taking the riches that go with it－while Rennes will go into the Europa League group stage after it clinched fourth place, coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Lille.

AFP