Sunday will see the conclusion of the race for fifth place and the final Europa League spot as Ligue 1 reaches its climax. Going into the final matchday there are four sides who theoretically stand a chance of securing that European berth for next season. Saint-Étienne v Bordeaux is a straight shootout between the pair in a winner takes all matchup whilst Rennes and Toulouse can also still make it but need a combination of events to occur.

Saint-Étienne v Bordeaux:

First up is the game at Stade Geoffroy Guichard where les Girondins can guarantee Europe with a win but ASSE will be desperate to use the chance to ensure that they do not squander the fantastic progress that they have made this season. For a while les Verts looked in control of the Europa League places but last week’s 3-2 defeat at Nancy has left them with their work cut-out heading into this fixture.

Coming into the match on a five game winning streak, Francis Gillot’s men are slight favourites but will be aware of the difficulties that Christophe Galtier’s men will cause them. If Bordeaux win then it caps a remarkable turnaround in a season that looked like it would end in mediocrity a few months ago and if Saint-Étienne succeed then it will be a just reward for the fantastic job Galtier has done in building a strong, competitive squad with a limited budget, scouting talent and a productive youth academy.

Prediction: 1-0 ASSE  win just, but possibly not enough to secure fifth though if Rennes win big against Dijon as expected.

Rennes v Dijon:

Rennes although blowing hot and cold this season are still in with a great shout of securing European football for next term. Level on points with Saint-Étienne and only one goal worse off, Frédéric Antonetti’s men know they need a big haul from Sunday’s game and to hope that ASSE beat Bordeaux. So who better to face than their first opponents of the season Dijon who were easily dispatched 1-5 on the opening day of the season by the Bretons.

Les Rouges-et-Noirs come into the game on the back of three disappointing defeats yet still remain in contention whilst Dijon’s back-to-back draws have seen them stuck in the bottom three since the start of the month. It is a cruel final game to be faced with, especially with Rennes needing to win because a focused and determined Antonetti side are difficult opponents but when the pressure is off they are prone to complacency which would have given DFCO a great chance. A win would see them survive but given their away form their fans will probably not be holding their breath.

Prediction: 3-0 to Rennes which would secure fifth place and send Dijon down.

Toulouse v Ajaccio:

Toulouse had been great value all season until they reached April but four defeats and three draws in eight games have left their European dreams in tatters. Still technically able to qualify for the Europa League, le Téfécé need to win big and hope that other results go their way but it is unlikely that all of these things will happen on the same day.

Firstly, they have struggled in front of goal all season despite the presence of Emmanuel Rivière and Umut Bulut in the side. The Turk has only netted five goals all season whilst the Frenchman has the same amount despite playing fewer games thanks to injury problems. 37 goals all season is one of the lowest totals in Ligue 1 and lower than any of the bottom three despite boasting the meanest defence in the league.

Funny then that Alain Casanova’s men are up against the league’s most porous defence on a day that they really need to find the net big time! Ajaccio have shipped 61 goals so far this season despite the presence of Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in goal and are travelling to Stade Municipal in search of their third away win of the campaign against a team that has only lost three home games all season. Also one of the league’s lowest scorers, les Ours have to win to ensure their survival in what is shaping up to be a tedious final day encounter.

Prediction: 0-0 and a game that lives up to the disappointing stats building up to it. Toulouse miss out on Europe capping a dour end to a relatively bright campaign but Ajaccio stay up by virtue of Caen’s defeat against Valenciennes.

Predicted Final Standings:

5-Rennes

6-Saint-Etienne

7-Bordeaux

8-Toulouse

This week’s podcast comes live from southern France as Andrew travelled down for the massive game between Montpellier and Lille. Depending on the result in Paris, La Paillade could have lifted Le Championnat.

Andrew was joined by his friend and betting expert Mark Tonks and 27,000 Montpellier fans.

Please enjoy the sounds from the game and hopefully it’ll bring the game to you the listeners.

Andrew also caught up with Gary Linton who was at the PSG v Rennes game, getting both sides of the weekend.

To download this weeks episode right click the image above or here and “save”.

To subscribe via iTunes simply go here, or to subscribe via other various readers go here.

Make sure to follow French Football Weekly on twitter or Facebook.

You can also follow the hosts Andrew Gibney or Jonathan Johnson.

We really appreciate all feedback for the show, be it good or bad. Please let us know.

Zinedine Zidane was behind the transfer of young Frenchman Raphael Varane from RC Lens to Real Madrid in the Summer of 2011. Zidane insisted that Real Madrid sign this player having kept an eye on him at Lens and stating that he reminded him of now French National Coach Laurent Blanc.

The then 18 year old Varane was shown the facilities at Real Madrid’s training complex of Valdebebas, met with both Jose Mourinho and Zidane and was immediately impressed with Real Madrid’s offer and put pen to paper on a six year contract with the Spanish giants.

Now it has to be said that Real Madrid has had a tendency to mismanage young talent acquired from other teams in recent years. Look at the likes of Royston Drenthe, Fernando Gago, Sergio Canales and Ezequiel Garay.

All of these players arrived with bundles of promise, and ended up wasted on the bench, not being given a fair chance and eventually loaned out or sold. The worry was that Varane would suffer the same fate as these players and so many other youthful talents that could have done so much more at the club.

Varane feels different though. A tall, sharp and commanding centre back at the tender age of 19, he made 15 appearances this season for Mourinho. He impressed in all of them. Seldom putting a foot wrong, showing good ability to tackle, play the ball out from the back and even chip in with two goals and an impressive assist that one would come to expect from a winger rather than a centre back.

Whenever he has played this season his composure and confidence on the ball is what makes him stand out. At such a young age he doesn’t appear phased by the magnitude of playing for Real Madrid. He has quickly become popular among fans. As Real Madrid were presented with their League trophy, every player was individually introduced to the Bernabeu, Varane received a surprisingly loud cheer, much louder in fact than players such as Raul Albiol or even Kaka.

It looks likely that Ricardo Carvalho could soon be leaving Madrid and this will mean more minutes for Varane. It is rare that you can be genuinely excited about the prospects of a central defender but Varane really does seem to have the potential to be a key figure for Real Madrid and France for years to come.

With Sergio Ramos and Pepe ahead of him it could be a while before we see him as a first choice centre back but with defenders of that calibre in his team it can only help him improve. The way he has been used this season has been quite intelligent. He may have struggled had he been thrown in the deep end week in week out but he also was played enough to showcase his obvious ability.

Varane will be hoping that next season he’ll be given more chances and improve his all round game. As a talent, he is still raw, but he does possess all the attributes that could help him turn into a world class defender. He could very well be one that will be around at the highest level in years to come.

Out-with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema has been Real Madrid‘s standout player this season. The transformation in the young Frenchman’s fortunes over the previous season have been tremendous and he has earned his first team spot for the Spanish champions.

It was only 18 months ago though, that Karim Benzema was publicly criticised by Jose Mourinho. When it was revealed in December 2010 that Gonzalo Higuain would have to go under the knife for a back injury he had suffered. Mourinho now only had one striker at his disposal and was less than pleased at the prospect, comparing having Benzema in your team with hunting with a cat, instead of a pack of dogs.

Benzema responded towards the end of the season. Scoring goals in games against Atletico, Sevilla, Valencia and in both legs of the Champions League against former club Lyon. While this was a vast improvement on the nine goals he had scored in his first season, it still wasn’t the 30 million euro signing that many had expected. This was soon to change though.

Over last Summer Benzema took the advice of both Jose Mourinho and French national coach, Laurent Blanc and improved his diet and attitude. The cat came back from his Summer holiday’s hungrier than ever. The Benzema that was now playing looked leaner, faster and more determined. Throughout the course of the season he and Higuain fought tooth and nail for the strikers spot in Mourinho’s team.

Each player is more than worthy, and they both showed this week in week out as the manager interchanged the pair regularly. However Mourinho tended to stick with Benzema more often as he felt he was better for breaking down the more gritty and defensive teams than his more direct and more devastating Argentine counterpart. While Higuain’s strike rate is second to none, including Messi and Ronaldo; Benzema’s performances were impressing Mourinho more

His stand-out displays against Barcelona in Camp Nou twice this season showed not just his goalscoring talents but his pressing abilities, his capability to hold up play with his strength and his fantastic decision making skills. The league victory away at Barcelona was the game that killed the title race and Benzema was absolutely outstanding.

Benzema scored important goals in the league, cup and Champions League as Real Madrid went on to win their 32nd league title after three years watching Barcelona take the title. Benzema has gone from an unimpressive cat to a roaring lion. One that has been instrumental this season for Real Madrid. He will no doubt be a key figure for the French national team going into Euro 2012 in a few weeks time too.

Over the course of the season the remarkable trident of Ronaldo, Benzema and Higuain have broken the record for the most number of goals for three players, 118, surpassing Messi, Eto’o and Henry’s 2009 record of 100 goals.

Benzema’s personal goal tally was 32, his best ever return in a season. Add that to his 15 assists for the campaign and it is clear that Real Madrid finally have the player they signed from Lyon three seasons ago.

Jeremy Smith takes a look at was has happened to FC Metz and how they have fallen from being one of France’s top names all the way down to the third division. Can the slayers of Barcelona make their way back and dine at the top table once again.

For 40 minutes or so on the 9th of May 1998, FC Metz (pronounced “mess” by the locals) were virtual French champions. Needing to win and for RC Lens to lose in order to win the league for the first time, Metz led Lyon while at the same time Lens trailed to Auxerre. However, a Lens equaliser clinched the championship on goal difference, and les grenats’ chance was gone. It felt at the time like a great chance blown and the beginning of a period of rebuilding. Not in the fans’ worst nightmares, did they think that it would begin a downward spiral that culminated last weekend. Barring a miracle – 14 goal swing – almost 14 years to the day, Metz’ will be relegated to the Championnat National, for the first time in the club’s 80 year history.

It is a sad demise for a club which, if not in terms of trophy hauls, has long been one of the stalwarts of the French league. Under the presidency of Carlo Molinari (think a slightly lighter, slightly less boisterous Louis Nicollin), Metz became one of the standard-bearers for French football during the 80s and 90s. Winners during that period of two Coupes de la Ligue and two Coupes de France, as well as the 1998 runners-up spot, Metz won a place in the hearts of French football fans everywhere with their epic 4-1 Cup Winners’ Cup victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou in 1984, heroes such as goalkeeper Michel Ettore, hat-trick hero Tony Kurbos and Senegalese forward Jules Bocandé (who sadly – and portentously – passed away earlier last week), overturning a first leg deficit in what is arguably French club football’s most impressive European result.

More than individual matches, however, Metz have long been respected for their youth policy and development of players: if the championnat can be considered a feeder league for the richer countries, then Metz has surely long been one its main feeder clubs. From French and Cameroonian legends such as Patrick Battiston and Jacques Songo’o to more recent products such as Robert Pires, Louis Saha, Rigobert Song, Emmanuel Adebayor, Franck Ribery, Ludovic Obraniak, Sebastien Bassong, Roy Contout, Miralem Pjanic and this year’s Premiership revelation at Newcastle United Papiss Demba Cissé.

Numerous players have gone on to great things after either coming through the ranks or first making their name at Metz. (One notable exception is of course Michel Platini, who famously failed to make it through a trial with Metz after struggling with a breathing-test and being told that he didn’t have the lung capacity to make it through top level 90 minute matches – he ended up joining their great Lorraine rivals Nancy instead.)

1998 was the peak for the club. Joel Muller’s team, with a spine of Lionel Letizi in goal, Sylvain Kastendeuch, Philippe Gaillot and Song in defence, Jocelyn Blanchard and Belgian international Danny Boffin in the middle, Fréderic Meyrieu and a fresh-faced Pires pulling the strings and Bruno Rodriguez up front, played arguably the best football in the league (a personal highlight being the 3-2 defeat of OM in what was at the time a top of the table clash, with a stand-out goal by Song); indeed, after scraping an undeserved 1-1 which arguably cost Metz the title, Cannes manager Adick Koot said “compared to Metz, the rest are crap”.

However, the team soon disbanded. Blanchard moved to Juventus, Pires to Marseille, Song to Salernitana and Rodriguez to PSG. As so often with French clubs, the team that played in the following year’s European competition bore no resemblance to that which had earned the honour in the first place, and Metz were knocked out in the Champions League preliminary round by Helsinki. They finished the season mid-table and with the extra salt in the wound of losing to Lens in the Coupe de la Ligue final.

In the proceeding years, Metz became somewhat of a yo-yo club, with a couple of relegations (ending their uninterrupted 35 year stay in the top flight) followed by immediate promotions. The old warrior Kastendeuch ended his career at Metz in 2001 (cruelly denied a truly great send-off when he was knocked out cold and hospitalised five minutes into his final match at Saint-Symphorien). Relegation in 2008 began three years of near-misses – two for promotion, one for relegation. This season seemed to promise better things: at the turn of the year Metz were handily placed in 8^th, in a very tight league. However, a dismal 2012 has seen them win only two matches and deservedly relegated.

It is difficult to predict what future lies in store for the club. An immediate return to Ligue 2 will be hoped for and Molinari’s successor as president, Bernard Serin, is confident that the club is secure financially and able to bounce straight back. However, their better players, such as top scorer Mathieu Duhamel and captain Ludovic Guerriero, will no doubt move on, and the recent experience of similar-sized clubs such as Grenoble and Metz’s Alsatian neighbours Strasbourg, who both plummeted to the fifth tier of French football, is a sobering thought.

Metz’s motto is le feu sacré – the sacred fire. All messins – and many of France’s neutrals – will be hoping that that fire keeps on burning, and that one of France’s best-loved clubs returns to the top soon.

Today Laurent Blanc named the French based players that completed his 27 man preliminary squad. Surprise inclusions include Montpellier’s excellent Mapou Yanga M’Biwa and Lyon’s playmaker Yoann Gourcuff. Left out of the squad is PSG’s captain Mamadou Sakho, and strikers Kevin Gameiro and Bafetimbi Gomis.

Blanc will have to remove four names from the list. Defender Younes Kaboul will miss out through injury, that leaves Blanc with only three names left to remove before submitting the final 23 names. Looking at the numbers expect two midfielders and a forward to leave the list.

GOALKEEPERS

Hugo LLORIS (Lyon), Steve MANDANDA (Marseille), Cedric CARRASSO (Bordeaux)

DEFENDERS

Gael CLICHY (Manchester City), Mathieu DEBUCHY (Lille), Patrice EVRA (Manchester United), Adil RAMI (Valencia CF), Younes KABOUL – inj (Tottenham), Laurent KOSCIELNY (Arsenal), Philippe MEXES (Milan), Anthony REVEILLERE (Lyon), Mapou YANGA M’BIWA (Montpellier)

MIDFIELD

Yohan CABAYE (Newcastle United), Alou DIARRA (Marseille), Yoann GOURCUFF (Lyon), Yann M’VILA (Rennes), Florent MALOUDA (Chelsea), Marvin MARTIN (Sochaux), Blaise MATUIDI (Paris Saint-Germain), Samir NASRI (Manchester City)

FORWARDS

Hatem BEN ARFA (Newcastle United), Karim BENZEMA (Real Madrid), Olivier GIROUD (Montpellier), Jeremy MENEZ (Paris Saint-Germain), Loic REMY (Marseille), Franck RIBERY (Bayern Munich), Mathieu VALBUENA (Marseille)

Last night in Paris the best and brightest of Ligue 1 gathered to find out who would be crowned the best in France. The UNFP awards would honour the Best Player, Best Young Player, Best Goalkeeper, Best Coach and a Best XI of the season.

With 17 goals and 15 assists for his club Lille’s Eden Hazard was names Ligue 1’s Best Player for the second year running. The Belgian wingers pipped Olivier Giroud, Younes Belhanda and Nene to the prize. Hazard used the awards ceremony to announce that he had made a decision and he would be moving to Manchester…although he wouldn’t confirm that it was City.

Montpellier are on the verge of the title and picked up two individual awards. Younes Belhanda won Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Year and Rene Girard won Coach of the Year. The awards are a fitting tribute to a team that is on the verge of lifting Le Championnat for the first time.

Hugo Lloris was named Ligue 1’s Goalkeeper of the year. A very nice way for France’s #1 to end the season giving him a massive confidence boost before the European Championships get underway in June. Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas was quoted afterwards that he expected Lloris to return to Lyon in the summer. However a good showing at this summer’s championships could see a few clubs come in for the shot stopper.

Ligue 1’s team of the season was as follows: (4-2-3-1)

Hugo Lloris (Lyon) – Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Hilton (Montpellier), Nicolas N’Koulou (Marseille), Henri Bedimo (Montpellier) – Rio Mavuba (Lille), Etienne Capoue (Toulouse) – Eden Hazard (Lille), Younes Belhanda (Montpellier), Nene (Paris Saint-Germain) – Olivier Giroud (Montpellier)

The event also saw awards handed out to the best in Ligue 2. And it was the champions that enjoyed a clean sweep. SC Bastia’s Jerome Rothen was voted Ligue 2 Player of the Year. Magno Novaes won Goalkeeper of the Year and Frederic Hantz picked up Coach of the Year.

To top off the evening Bastia had five players named in the Team of the Year; which was as follows.

Magno Novaes (Bastia) – Abdallah Kassim (Sedan), Anthony Weber (Reims), Mickael Tacalfred (Reims), Fethi Harek (Bastia) – Abdou Diallo Sadio (Bastia), Wahbi Khazri (Bastia), Romain Alessandrini (Clermont), Jerome Rothen (Bastia) – Ryan Mendes (Le Havre), Kamel Ghilas (Reims)

FFW will be releasing their own awards at the end of the season…stay tuned.

So this is what it all boils down to for Montpellier, win this game a home to Lille and surely the title will be theirs, lose or draw and it potentially sets up a huge final day of action. It is a massive assumption that Paris Saint-Germain beat Rennes but if they were to claim three points then la Paillade could find themselves two points ahead of les Dogues in third place on the final day of the campaign and in need of an away win against an Auxerre side fighting for their life. PSG on the other hand would travel to Lorient who are almost guaranteed their safety with little to play for whilst Lille face Nancy at home. The title race could still take one massive twist with only two games to go so it is do or die for Rene Girard’s men. A Montpellier victory on Sunday would surely crush PSG’s spirited late challenge for the title regardless of their result but failure to do so would run the risk of undermining a heroic underdog story.

The game then will hinge on the battle between two of the league’s best players this season: Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard. Whilst Giroud has been prolific and undoubtedly the success story of this Ligue 1 season, Hazard has, statistically had his best season in a Lille shirt and is currently playing some of the best football on display in Europe. With suitors queuing up around the block for both players, Sunday’s epic showdown is surely a question of who can impose themselves more on the game, the clinical Frenchman or the eclectic Belgian. Your guess is as good as mine.

Since his early strikes in the opening two rounds of matches I don’t think many people expected Giroud to maintain his impressive goalscoring form right until the end of the season but he has. 21 goals and eight assists in the league have helped make him a French international as well as firing the provincial outfit to the brink of an unlikely title but he has been helped massively by Moroccan playmaker Younes Belhanda who has chipped in with 12 goals and four assists this season. The talented attacking midfielder has often provided the ammunition for the 25-year old and is the perfect foil for the target man but now Giroud has to go it alone.

Belhanda misses the rest of the season because of his red card against Evian a fortnight ago and the team must now strive to offset his absence and provide their predator with the chances he needs to downLille. With players like Remy Cabella, Geoffrey Dernis and John Utaka available la Paillade have the players capable of laying on the opportunities but will need to replicate their efficient if not entirely free-flowing performance from Monday night against Rennes.

Lille meanwhile have been playing like champions-elect despite their current third place in the table and nobody has been more impressive in their late season surge for a title challenge than Eden Hazard. The man of the moment in French football has been on fire for the past two months (coinciding with a number of scouting visits) and has racked up eight goals and eight assists in the past two months to take his season’s tally to 17 goals and 15 assists, already blitzing last year’s return of seven goals and ten assists.

The Belgian playmaker however is used to making his team tick as that is how he always plays: centre of attention. Giroud on the other hand is not used to not having anybody to shoulder the burden with as evidenced against Rennes when Cabella and Camara had to pop up with the goals. This is where the visitors have an edge that could prove crucial. Hazard is in the form of his life right now and nobody seems to be able to stop him. Just look at how he performed despite injury against PSG two weeks ago: he was imperious. This game although perfect for the hosts to sew up the title, is also perfect for the visitors to blow this title race wide open ahead of the last day of the season.

The match promises to be an exciting spectacle offering the two best footballing sides this season going head-to-head for the chance to swing the title race in their favour. Two of the league’s best talents are also on show and the game is shaping up to be pivotal in terms of nouveau riche PSG’s chances of winning what would be a slightly undeserved first title under Qatari ownership.

My prediction: Lille to put in a big performance and Montpellier to rally well with both sides creating a lot of chances. I think LOSC will dominate proceedings but Giroud perhaps will salvage a point for the hosts leading us into an exciting final day. 1-1.

Andrew and Jon are back only days from the penultimate week of games in Ligue 1. They discuss the three championship contenders and their games last weekend. PSG’s comeback against Valenciennes; Montpellier’s excellent win against Rennes and Lille coasting past Caen.

With Montpellier hosting Lille this weekend the guys preview the big games at the top.

The Andrew was joined by Ligue 1 expert Steve Wyss (@meatmansoccer) as they discuss the situation at his team Marseille and other issues around Ligue 1 and French football in general.

In Part two the guys focus on the relegation battle and what teams have the most favourable run-in for the final two games.

With Laurent Blanc picking the first half of his French side for the Euro 2012 tournament Jon and Andrew look at who made the list and who didn’t. Also would Ben Arfa start for France, or what will his role be.

To download this weeks episode right click the image above or here and “save”.

To subscribe via iTunes simply go here, or to subscribe via other various readers go here.

Make sure to follow French Football Weekly on twitter or Facebook.

You can also follow the hosts Andrew Gibney or Jonathan Johnson.

We really appreciate all feedback for the show, be it good or bad. Please let us know.