Only an incredible surprise or some unexpected major event can change the expected rivals in the last duel of the presidential election campaign in France, which with great probability will involve Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, writes Le Journal du Dimanche.

Commenting on the data of the Ifop public opinion research institute three weeks before the first round of the presidential elections, the publication predicts that, in all likelihood, "the final confrontation between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, which polls have almost systematically announced for more than two years, will indeed take place".

According to the latest poll, the winner of the first round should still be the current French President Macron. His rating has been gradually rising in recent months.

The president is 11 points ahead of Marine Le Pen, who has 18.5%. Such a gap between the main contenders has not been seen since the 1988 election campaign in which President Francois Mitterrand, who completed his first mandate, also came close to 30% of expected votes, Le Journal du Dimanche noted.

The first round of the French presidential election is scheduled for 10 April this year. If a second round is needed, the vote will be held on 24 April, Interfax reported.