The battle for the top spot in Ligue 1 is heating up as Rennes, Nice, and Lyon all have slim chances of securing a place in Europe's premier club competition.

In the race to secure a spot in the Europa League, Rennes currently sit just two points behind Nice and four points adrift from leaders Lyon. The French giants have been one of the standout performers this season, winning their last six games in a row and leaving themselves in pole position.

However, it looks like Nice could be the surprise package of the campaign. The Cote d'Azur outfit have won five out of their last seven matches, which has seen them climb into third place in the table. They may not have the same attacking prowess as Rennes or Lyon, but they are playing some excellent football and showing great character.

Meanwhile, Lyon's recent form has seen them drop down the table slightly, but they still have a fighting chance of securing a Europa League spot. Their home defeat against Paris Saint-Germain was a blow, but they have since bounced back with three wins in a row.

All three teams are facing tough competition in the middle of the table, with only a few points separating them from the relegation zone. It will be fascinating to see how these teams fare in the remaining fixtures and whether any of them can make a late push for a European place.