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7 months ago
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Despite a complicated Thursday, France increased its lead over the Netherlands in the fight for fifth place in the UEFA Index.
French clubs did not shine on the European front on Thursday. The day after the victory won by PSG in their first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, none of the five competing teams managed to win.
The tone was set by Olympique de Marseille, who had to settle for a draw (2-2) against Shakhtar Donetsk after leading twice, including the second time in the 89th.e minute. In the process, Stade Rennais was shattered on the pitch of AC Milan (3-0), Toulouse was crucified in the final moments of the match at Benfica (2-1) and Lens escaped cheaply with a draw (0-0) against Fribourg.
The gap widens against the Netherlands
But despite these poor results recorded in the Europa League, the week was once again profitable for French football: France has in fact widened the gap over the Netherlands, its main rival in the race for fifth place. in the UEFA Ranking, and is now 2,531 points ahead of its Batavian rival.
The Netherlands, who lost two representatives before the start of the final phase, saw Ajax Amsterdam have to settle for a draw against the Norwegians of Bodo/Glimt, and Feyennoord also conceded the draw , against AS Roma (1-1). Enough to do the business of France.
As a reminder, fifth place would allow Ligue 1 to have four representatives for the Champions League in 2025-2026.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
