French clubs Champions League qualification outlook, Digi Mart USA News: According to a report published by 433foot.fr, it is not yet official, but barring a miracle, the two northern French clubs will not finish in the top 24 of the Champions League.
The report describes a grim outlook for French clubs: apart from Paris Saint-Germain, no Ligue 1 representative is expected to be present in the knockout phase.
With 3 points and a goal difference of -12, RC Lens is almost eliminated from the Champions League. In the 2024/2025 season, the 24th-placed club had 11 points and a goal difference of -4.
The report notes that goal average has had no influence this time.
The article recalls that last season, Olympique de Marseille was eliminated with 9 points and a goal difference of -3, while Benfica advanced with the same 9 points and a goal difference of -2 after a late goal by its goalkeeper against Real Madrid.
According to the report, unless a small miracle occurs, a total of 9 points will very probably not be enough for Lens to finish among the top 24. The club would need at least 10 points to believe in qualification, which would require winning two matches while conceding few goals in the other two.
Lens hosts Bodø/Glimt and Manchester City and travels to Leipzig and Liverpool.
For Lille, the situation is even more complicated. With 1 point from four matches and a goal difference of -6, the club hosts Bayern Munich and Bratislava and travels to Stuttgart and Rome.
The report says qualification would require at least two upsets, and that the club must beat the team at the bottom of the table.
