As Paris Saint-Germain was celebrates Kylian Mbappé’s contract extension and securing a 5-0 victory over FC Metz at the Parc des Princes, Ligue 1 delivered a concentrated dose of final day drama in the rest of France. Olympique de Marseille, Stade Rennais, Girondins de Bordeaux, AS Saint-Etienne and Metz themselves all had plenty to play for in the closing round, and The Championship did not disappoint with plenty of late drama. .
We’re looking at the final rework.
Marseille second
Thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of RC Strasbourg Alsace, OM are back in the UEFA Champions League next season with a brace from Gerson while Cengiz Under and Cédric Bakambu also ensured that Jorge Sampaoli’s men left nothing behind. coincidence. A blow for Julian Stephan’s impressive Racing team, who fell sorely short of Europe at the last moment, but the victory sparked jubilation in the camp of OM owner Frank McCourt.
Third for Monaco
There was late drama in Lens as AS Monaco were held 2-2 after Ignatius Ganago’s late equalizer for the hosts meant Marseille secured second place with two points in the end. of game. Benoit Badiashile and Wissam Ben Yedder canceled out Przemyslaw Frankowski’s opener and appeared to have completed a late flurry from Philippe Clément’s men to take an automatic Champions League spot before Ganago’s late effort confirmed third place and a qualifying place. The principality’s side’s form was so good that they finished Ligue 1 as the in-form side of 2022 with nine outstanding wins from 10 matches to complete their epic sprint in the UCL early rounds.
After the match, Monegasque owner Dmitry Rybolovlev said: “The cruel scenario of this last match should not make us forget the last episodes of the battle we waged in Ligue 1. At the end of a season marked by ups and downs, I would like people to remember the fighting spirit of the players and the technical staff. The team has been through tough times, but hasn’t given up. Instead, she put on an excellent unbeaten streak and was rewarded for her efforts by the club of the club. seventh podium since AS Monaco returned to Ligue 1 nine years ago.”
Like Strasbourg, RC Lens were European hopefuls until the end of the campaign, but they failed to qualify for Continental after a brave effort from Franck Haise’s brave side.
Rennes takes fourth place
Strasbourg ended up finishing three points behind Bruno Genesio’s Rennes and that was after the Breton outfit battled twice against Timothy Weah-inspired Lille OSC to draw 2-2 against the fallen champions. The USMNT star put LOSC ahead only twice for Benjamin Bourigeaud to equalize once, then ex-Dogue Sehrou Guirassy to save the vital point at death that secured a finish above the OGC Nice who somehow fought back 2-0 away at Stade de Reims won 3-2 thanks to a seven-minute Andy Delort hat-trick.
Lyon misses Europe
Although that was settled before the final day, Lyon, absent from Europe, continue their recent decline after an appearance in the semi-finals of the Champions League just two years ago. A 2-1 away win at Clermont Foot 63 counted for little and Peter Bosz’s men must now retool to come back stronger next campaign.
Bordeaux and Metz collapse
As good as decided ahead of the final round of games, Bordeaux’s relegation was confirmed despite a 4-2 away win at Stade Brestois 29 which encouraged maligned owner Gerard Lopez to issue an introspective club statement ahead of what promises to be a turbulent summer.
“It’s a failure,” he wrote. “Collective and personal. As president, I take my share of responsibility. Like all of you, I am deeply upset by this relegation which forces us to think about the future differently. On this extremely sad day, my thoughts are with the fans , club employees, partners, and all club lovers. This season we have not been up to the task. There are many reasons why and how it happened. Changes are expected for the season next time, necessary changes that in no way alter my ambitions as a leader It will be difficult, but we must believe in a renewal.
Metz’s beating in Paris as well as Saint-Etienne’s draw at Nantes meant that the Grenats also dropped out of the top flight despite having given themselves a chance of survival with recent results.
Saint-Etienne against Auxerre
Nantes draw gives Saint-Etienne 180 minutes to salvage Ligue 1 status against Ligue 2 side AJ Auxerre, who are themselves targeting a return to the top flight after beating Paris FC and FC Sochaux Montbéliard in the second division qualifiers. Pascal Dupraz’s men had to thank club favorite Romain Hamouma for his away equalizer against the Coupe de France champions which gives them hope for a reprieve.
