Struggling French landmarks as Paris Saint-Germain gear up for Champions League decider

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Ligue 1 Drama: Saint-Etienne on the Brink of Relegation Amidst PSG's European Triumph

Last Wednesday, PSG defeated Arsenal in the semi-finals, setting up a final showdown at the end of May against Inter Milan in Munich. This marks PSG's second final appearance in Europe's elite club competition, following their loss to Bayern Munich in 2020[1]. Meanwhile, historic French side, Saint-Etienne, stands on the edge of being relegated from Ligue 1, just a year since they managed to secure a comeback to the top tier[2].

In 1976, Saint-Etienne tasted the bitterness of defeat in the European Cup final against Franz Beckenbauer's Bayern Munich in Glasgow[1]. Yet, almost five decades later, they are facing the possibility of being relegated to Ligue 2, marking their sixth such occurrence in club history.

With only two games left in the season, Saint-Etienne is poised above only Montpellier, who have been relegated already. They are four points behind Le Havre, currently occupying the relegation play-off spot and five points away from outright safety[2]. A defeat against Reims this weekend will officially seal their demotion, while a draw will essentially mean relegation due to their poor goal difference.

Nevertheless, a win will keep their survival hopes alive, provided they receive some favorable outcomes from other matches. Norwegian coach Eirik Horneland acknowledged the criticality of the situation, stressing, "We need two victories to stay in the league"[2].

Saint-Etienne's longstanding rivals, Lyon, find themselves in the seventh position, with two games remaining. Their hopes of Champions League qualification took a significant blow when they lost 2-1 to Lens last weekend. Lyon brought in Paulo Fonseca as coach at the end of January, hoping that he could lead them back to Europe's top table[2].

However, Lyon currently doesn't hold any advantage over the top four teams, meaning a first Champions League campaign since their 2020 semi-finals appearance appears elusive[2]. Fonseca and the team must secure a win against Monaco this Saturday, as the consequences of Champions League omission could be financially disastrous for the club[2].

The American-owned Lyon, part of Eagle Football Group, have substantial debts, and French footballing authorities had previously warned them that they would be relegated if they failed to take immediate action to reduce their liabilities[2].

A player worth keeping an eye on is Andre Ayew. The 35-year-old Ghanaian is gearing up to possibly secure Le Havre's survival for the second consecutive season. Ayew, who started his career at Marseille and shares a history with the club since his father, Abedi Pele, won the Champions League there in 1993, will square off against Marseille this week[2]. He is on the brink of achieving his 500th league appearance, spanning his career across England, Qatar, Turkey, and France[2].

Key Stats:

PSG has suffered consecutive Ligue 1 defeats, marking the team's first such series since 2010
Saint-Etienne faces the threat of relegation for the sixth time in its history
Just two points separate five teams, ranging from Marseille in second to Strasbourg in sixth, in the race for Champions League qualification

Fixtures this Weekend (all kick-offs at 19:00 GMT):

Angers v Strasbourg, Auxerre v Nantes, Brest v Lille, Le Havre v Marseille, Monaco v Lyon, Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain, Reims v Saint-Etienne, Rennes v Nice, Toulouse v Lens

[1] Easton, T., Petit, J. (2022, July 13). PSG set for Munich showdown against Inter in Champions League return. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/uefa-champions-league/psg-inter-munich-final-b1988557.html

[2] Reuters. (2023, April 28). Saint-Etienne, Lyon sweat as Ligue 1 title race hots up. Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230428-saint-etienne-lyon-sweat-as-ligue-1-title-race-hots-up

Saint-Etienne's potential relegation from Ligue 1 in 2025 could mark the sixth time the historic French side has been relegated, a stark contrast to PSG's second Champions League final appearance in Europe's elite club competition in 2025.
As PSG prepares to face Inter Milan in the Champions League final in May 2025, Saint-Etienne battles to stay in Ligue 1, with a win needed to keep their survival hopes alive.
Andre Ayew, a player worth watching, aims to secure Le Havre's survival for the second consecutive season, facing his former club, Marseille, in what could also be his 500th league appearance across England, Qatar, Turkey, and France.
The financial consequences of Champions League omission could be detrimental for American-owned Lyon, part of Eagle Football Group, who are also vying for a spot in the Champions League in 2025.
In the European leagues sports analysis, just two points separate five teams, ranging from Marseille in second to Strasbourg in sixth, in the race for Champions League qualification for the 2025-2026 season.
The 2025 Champions League offs will see Saint-Etienne and Lyon attempt to reduce their sports-related financial liabilities as they strive to compete in Europe's top table.

Struggling French landmarks as Paris Saint-Germain gear up for Champions League decider