De Zerbi and Marseille hoping to handle pressure in Champions League fight

Paris Saint-Germain have already been confirmed as Ligue 1 champions for the fourth season running and now have a weekend off to prepare for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Aston Villa.

The focus in France is therefore now fully on the fight below PSG to see who will join them in next season's Champions League, with at least six teams in contention for two automatic qualifying slots and one in the preliminary rounds.

Marseille are second, two points above Monaco in third before going to the principality on Saturday to renew a longstanding rivalry. Meanwhile Strasbourg, Lyon, Nice and Lille are all within three points of Monaco, each ready to take advantage of slip-ups by the teams above them this weekend.

Strasbourg and Nice play each other on Saturday, while Lille and Lyon face difficult away trips, the latter going to Auxerre ahead of their Europa League quarter-final second leg away to Manchester United.

Even Brest and Lens may yet have a say in the race for European places, but it is Marseille who draw the most attention. In mid-February, 22 games into the season, Marseille were six points clear in second place, and 10 points ahead of Lyon in sixth.

They appeared to be easing to Champions League qualification, only to then lose four of their next five matches. De Zerbi's fury with his team led to reports in sports daily 'L'Equipe' that the Marseille squad were on the brink of a mutiny, with forward Neal Maupay forced to deny claims that the players had refused to train.

Former Brighton coach De Zerbi admitted he had been "annoyed" with his team but insisted he was in his element in the frequently explosive atmosphere at the Velodrome.

The Italian got a reaction as Marseille beat Toulouse 3-2 last weekend, with Mason Greenwood and Adrien Rabiot both scoring marvellous goals.

"I am satisfied when the team gives everything. We can lose, we can win, we can make mistakes but we must give everything," he said after Marseille moved back up to second.

There is now possibly just as much pressure on Monaco, who lost 2-1 in Brest last time out and will slip five points behind Marseille if they lose at the Stade Louis II.

The two clubs who dominated the French game in the late 1980s and early 1990s are both banking on Champions League football next season.

"The most important thing is that we have our future in our own hands," said Monaco coach Adi Huetter. "It is up to us to seize the opportunity."

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Lens v Reims (18.45)

Saturday

Monaco v Marseille (15.00), Toulouse v Lille (17.00), Strasbourg v Nice (19.05)

Sunday

Saint-Etienne v Brest (13.00), Le Havre v Rennes, Angers v Montpellier (both 15.15), Auxerre v Lyon (18.45)

Tuesday, April 22nd

Nantes v Paris Saint-Germain (18.45)