It's truly been a very interesting Ligue 1 title race. Last season, PSG cruised to the title without much fuss, leaving all the other sides in their wake. This time around, Les Parisiens have been challenged all the way, and as we approach the final few games, it's Monaco who currently sit on top of the Ligue 1 table. Les Rouges-et-Blancs have scored a whopping 95 goals so far in Ligue 1 alone and will be hoping to further extend their three point lead as they travel to face Nancy on Saturday.
Ligue 1 Matchday 36 - U.S. viewing schedule
Below is the full U.S. schedule for round 36 of Ligue 1 action starting Friday:
May 5: Saint-Étienne vs Bordeaux on beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A., fuboTV, beIN SPORTS USA at 11:45 AM PST/2:45 PM EST
May 6: PSG vs Bastia on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 8:00 AM PST/11:00 AM EST
May 6: Guingamp vs Dijon on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
May 6: Lille vs Metz on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
May 6: Lorient vs Angers SCO on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
May 6: Nancy vs Monaco on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
May 6: Toulouse vs Caen on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A at 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
May 7: Rennes vs Montpellier on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 6:00 AM PST/9:00 AM EST
May 7: Olympique Lyonnais vs Nantes on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 8:00 AM PST/11:00 AM EST
May 7: Olympique Marseille vs Nice on fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A. at 12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST
*For more information, please navigate to each match's specific page
Ligue 1 - Matchday 36 overview
PSG will be desperate to get back on track as they host Bastia, but they will have to do it without two key players due to a ban. Both Angel Di Maria and Thiago Motta were sent off during Les Parisiens 3-1 defeat to Nice last round and hence will not be available for this game. That comes as a major blow for Unai Emery's side, who will need to win this game in order to keep up pressure on Monaco. Still, Bastia are currently 20th, but are not definitely relegated just yet.
Just as things are the top of the table are pretty close, the same applies for the teams fighting to avoid the drop. As things stand, Lorient, Dijon, Caen, Nancy, and Bastia are all candidates to be demoted to Ligue 2 next term. Unfortunately for two of those teams - Bastia and Nancy - they are taking on the top two sides in the division, which further dents their chances at getting out of the bottom two spots.
Meanwhile, the win for Nice sees them pull three points behind PSG to give them a faint glimmer of hope, but they could face a very tough test against Olympique Marseille, who are undefeated in their past five games.
Les Rouges-et-Blancs, who are on top of the Ligue 1 table, also do have a game in hand. They face Nancy on the road ahead of their trip to battle Juventus. Leonardo Jardim's men saw their 13-match unbeaten streak at home snapped by the Bianconeri, and given the fact that Juve scored two away goals, they will find it tough in Turin next week.
With that in mind, Jardim will have to decide how to manage his squad to keep everyone fit and firing on all cylinders as they attempt to break down La Vecchia Signora's tough defense, and at the same time, stay on top of the Ligue 1 table to keep PSG and Nice at bay in the race for the title.
Ligue 1 - Matchday 36 standings
Here's how things stand so far after 35 rounds in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 season. How will it look after matchday 36 concludes?
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PSG | 30 | 20 | 9 | 1 | 73 | 26 | +47 | 69 | WWDWW | |
| 2 | Monaco | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 58 | WWWWD | |
| 3 | Brest | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 29 | +15 | 53 | LLWWD | |
| 4 | Lille | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 43 | 26 | +17 | 52 | LWWWD | |
| 5 | Nice | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 33 | 24 | +9 | 48 | DWDLW | |
| 6 | Lens | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 39 | 32 | +7 | 46 | WLDLL | |
| 7 | Rennes | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 42 | WLLLW | |
| 8 | Olympique Marseille | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 45 | 37 | +8 | 41 | DDLLL | |
| 9 | Olympique Lyonnais | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 39 | 49 | -10 | 41 | LWWDW | |
| 10 | Reims | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 41 | -4 | 40 | LLDDW | |
| 11 | Toulouse | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 36 | 39 | -3 | 37 | DWDWL | |
| 12 | Montpellier | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 38 | 42 | -4 | 36 | WDWWL | |
| 13 | Strasbourg | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 33 | 41 | -8 | 36 | LWDWW | |
| 14 | Nantes | 30 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 28 | 48 | -20 | 31 | LWLWL | |
| 15 | Metz | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 31 | 49 | -18 | 29 | WWLLL | |
| 16 | Le Havre | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 27 | 38 | -11 | 28 | LLDLL | |
| 17 | Lorient | 30 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 36 | 59 | -23 | 26 | LLLLD | |
| 18 | Clermont | 30 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 49 | -28 | 22 | LDDLW |
