Article by Adrian Duţă – Published on Saturday, 09 May 2026, 10:14 / Updated on Saturday, 09 May 2026 10:15
Nantes lost away to Lens 0-1 in the 33rd round of Ligue 1 and were mathematically relegated to Ligue 2.
Nantes has 23 points, 5 behind Auxerre, the team in the play-off position. The “Canaries” have only one match to play, so they cannot make up the difference and will play in Ligue 2 next season. Metz was already down, having 16 points.
Nantes were mathematically relegated from Ligue 1
The only goal was scored by the 16-year-old Meian Soares, in the 79th minute. Shortly before, Abdallah Sima had also sent the ball into the opponent's goal, but the success was cancelled, according to sportal.bg.
Nantes is the second team mathematically relegated from Ligue 1, after Metz was relegated last week. Auxerre and Nice are fighting to get out of the playoffs. The two meet on Sunday. Nice has 31 points, 3 more than their direct opponent, and has the first chance to save themselves directly.
Lens keeps the title fight with PSG open
The success kept Lens's chances of challenging for the title and dethroning Paris Saint-Germain from the top spot after 4 years of undisputed dominance. If the Parisians lose on Sunday in the home match against Brest, at 22:00, the situation becomes more complicated for the Champions League finalist.
Thus, the difference between first and second place will remain three points, and next week, on May 13 (Wednesday), in a match remaining from the 29th stage, Lens will receive the visit of PSG.
Even if they fail there, the “red-yellows” will have one more game from which they can choose with a trophy. That will be on May 22 when they play against Nice in the French Cup final.
Ligue 1 standings
