Lille and Rennes Close Gap on Champions League Spots After Marseille Slip-Up

Following Olympique de Marseille’s 0-2 defeat to Brest on Friday, both Lille and Rennes seized the opportunity to close the gap on the coveted fourth-place Champions League qualification spot in Ligue 1. Both teams now trail Marseille by just three points.

Rennes Dominate Auxerre in Convincing Victory

Stade Rennais secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Auxerre, as confirmed by official Ligue 1 statistics. Despite an early goal by Sinayoko being disallowed for offside, Rennes took control of the match with a brace from Mahdi Camara and a goal from Lepaul before halftime.

This decisive win strengthens Rennes’ position in fifth place and brings them to 37 points, just three behind Marseille (40 points) after 23 matches.

Ligue 1 relief ranking before #RCSAOL at the end of D23:

— melted (@meltcen) February 22, 2026

Lille Ends Winless Streak with Narrow Victory

LOSC Lille ended a six-match winless streak with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Angers. The winning goal came from a penalty converted by Olivier Giroud just before halftime.

Despite a strong performance from Angers’ goalkeeper, Hervé Koffi, Lille secured the crucial three points. This result sees Lille equal Rennes on 37 points, but LOSC temporarily holds fifth place due to a superior goal difference (+5 compared to Rennes’ +2).

Pressure Mounts on Marseille

The defeat to Brest complicates matters for Marseille, particularly with a novel coach, Habib Bey, at the helm. Meanwhile, Rennes continues its positive momentum under Franck Haise, and Lille regains confidence ahead of a busy schedule.

With only three points separating the teams in fourth through sixth place, the race for European qualification remains fiercely competitive with five matchdays remaining.

FAQ

• What is the current gap between Marseille and Rennes/Lille? The gap is currently three points.
• Who scored for Rennes against Auxerre? Mahdi Camara (2 goals) and Lepaul scored for Rennes.
• Who scored for Lille against Angers? Olivier Giroud scored from a penalty.

Stay tuned to 247sports.news for continued coverage of Ligue 1 and the race for European qualification.