Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Saturday, 02 May 2026, 17:54 / Updated Saturday, 02 May 2026 17:55
Nantes managed a surprising result in the 32nd round of Ligue 1, 3-0 at home to Olympique Marseille, and the team coached by Vahid Halilhodzic (73 years old) still has hopes of avoiding direct relegation to Ligue 2.
If Metz are mathematically relegated by several stages, with just 16 points from 31 games, Nantes and Auxerre are fighting to avoid the second straight relegation spot in Ligue 2.
Nantes won the French championship 8 times, the last time in 2001, with Viorel Moldovan. Throughout history, 4 other former Romanian internationals have played for Nantes: Claudiu Keșeru, Florin Bratu, Bănel Nicoliță and Ciprian Tătărușanu.
Nantes, surprising victory with Marseille in the fight to avoid relegation from Ligue 1
After a first half in which the hosts still had more of the initiative, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a huge opportunity to open the scoring in the 41st minute for Marseille, but the Gabonese's powerful shot from close range was denied by goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren.
Thus, the two teams entered the booths with the same score from the beginning of the match, but the table was unlocked in the 50th minute after the hosts managed to open the scoring thanks to the fantastic shot sent by Ignatius Ganago from outside the box.
Just 4 minutes later, Remy Cabella doubled the lead after calmly controlling a phase in the opposition box and beating Jeffrey De Lange again.
After another 4 minutes, the hosts had an unexpected 3-goal advantage on the table after Matthis Abline pulled off a spectacular move and finished with a superb shot from outside the box.
Marseille then took control of the game, but without posing any danger to the hosts' goal, so the result established in the 8 minutes remained at the end.
Thanks to this success, Nantes reached the milestone of 23 points and still hope to avoid direct relegation. Auxerre is in 16th place, the play-off spot, with 25 points, but also with a less contested match, going to play this stage at home against Angers.
In the last two stages, Auxerre will play at home with Nice, and then away with Lille, a team that is fighting for a place in the top 3, a fact that ensures its presence in the next season in the Champions League.
On the other hand, Nantes will play in the next round away from the second place holder, Lens, and in the last stage they will receive the visit of Toulouse.
The main tie-breaker criterion in Ligue 1 is goal difference.
Ligue 1 standings
