For the first time in history, four French clubs will be involved in the same European Cup final phase.
By finishing in second place in their respective groups, Stade Rennais, TFC and Olympique de Marseille will compete in the play-offs of the C3 knockout phase.
They were joined by RC Lens, third in their group in the Champions League and therefore transferred to C3.
Stade Rennais pushed by a whole people
Unhappy second, therefore, but fortunately qualified, Rennes saw first place in their Europa group slip away from under their noses in the last minutes against Villarreal, in the group stage (2-3).
In the play-off, the Bretons probably drew the worst possible opponent: AC Milan, just returned to C3 after finishing behind PSG.
At San Siro, this Thursday at 9 p.m., Julien Stéphan's players, who have found their game in recent weeks, will be able to count on more than 8,000 supporters, the biggest trip in the club's history.
Enough to make many clubs in Europe jealous.
OM must do the job
Like their compatriots from Rennes, the Phocéens also fell from the leadership of their group against Brighton, two minutes from the end (1-0 defeat in England).
A poor performance which will lead them to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the play-offs this Thursday at 6:45 p.m.
If OM has been able to perform well in the European Cup since the start of the season, the club is experiencing a slump and has not experienced victory in the championship since December 17.
Note that given the war in Ukraine, the meeting is relocated to Hamburg (Germany).
In good form recently, the Lensois, here against Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on February 10, have a chance to play against Fribourg.
AFP/François Lo Presti
Toulouse dreams of prolonging the improvement
After Liverpool, why not Benfica?
Playing a European Cup final phase during the week and maintaining Ligue 1 at the weekend, that's the life that TFC has decided to lead.
In the play-offs, the Violets are preparing to meet the Lusitanian club this Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Estádio da Luz.
This is the first time that the Violets have played a European Cup final phase match in their history.
3,000 supporters will be present in the visitor's park for a meeting which promises to be festive, regardless of the result.
A first step to take for Lens
Why not go all the way for RC Lens?
After concluding an interesting group stage, notably punctuated by an exploit against Arsenal, Franck Haise's men were transferred to the Europa League and will face Friborg this Thursday at 9 p.m.
The Northerners will have to do without their two usual starters, left central defender Facundo Medina, suspended, and piston Deiver Machado, injured in his adductors.
On the German side, confidence is not there, the
Breisgau-Brasilianer remaining on three consecutive defeats in the league.
Also read “The bottom line is that we have all grown up”: transferred to the Europa League, Lens is heading towards new thrills
The only French club involved in the Europa Conference League, Lille qualified directly for the round of 16 of the competition by finishing at the top of their group.
The Dogues will know their opponent on Friday February 23.