FC Nantes will have to come through a relegation play-off to save their top-flight place after losing their final game of the campaign to Montpellier Hérault SC. Stade Rennais FC claimed a top-six berth to ensure European football again next term.
Canaries defeat lets rivals off the hook
Nantes came into the final night of the season in 18th position, but with the five clubs above them all within two points. Antoine Kombouaré’s side seemingly had the momentum too, having won their previous four matches on the bounce.
Girondins de Bordeaux ended any doubt about their future by winning 2-1 at fellow strugglers Stade de Reims, with Yacine Adli and Enock Kwateng scoring their goals after El Bilal Touré had put the home side ahead.
Meanwhile, RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient faced each other, with both sides just a point ahead of Nantes at kick-off. They played out a 1-1 draw, as Habib Diallo’s opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Trevoh Chalobah netting for Lorient at the Stade de la Meinau.
That result meant they were both safe as long as Stade Brestois 29 lost at home to Paris Saint-Germain. Brest duly went down 2-0 at home to the outgoing champions, but were themselves saved by Nantes who saw their winning run come to an end in dramatic fashion.
Gaëtan Laborde followed up to put Montpellier in front at the Stade de la Beaujoire after Andy Delort’s penalty was saved (31’), only for Randal Kolo Muani to quickly equalise. A draw would have been enough for Nantes with Brest losing, but Delort struck the winner for the away side with 14 minutes left, making it 2-1.
It was a good way for Michel Der Zakarian, the former Nantes coach, to bow out as boss of the southern side, as they finish eighth. Nantes, though, must now come through a two-legged play-off against second-tier side Toulouse FC to save their place in the top flight next season.
Marseille fifth, Rennes deny Lens
Meanwhile, Olympique de Marseille secured fifth place and Europa League football next season with a 1-1 draw at FC Metz. Last week they needed a stoppage-time Arkadiusz Milik penalty to beat Angers SCO and the Polish striker again converted from the spot deep in stoppage time at the Stade Saint-Symphorien - his goal was timed in the 13th minute of added time, cancelling out Farid Boulaya’s penalty at the other end in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Behind them, with RC Lens drawing 0-0 with AS Monaco, Rennes climbed above Les Sang et Or to claim sixth and a place in the new Europa Conference League. Bruno Genesio’s side had to win against already-relegated Nîmes Olympique and did so, Serhou Guirassy and Benjamin Bourigeaud scoring in a 2-0 victory.
Sunday’s other game saw bottom side Dijon FCO win 1-0 at AS Saint-Etienne, Aboubakar Kamara scoring as they signed off on a high.
