As Nantes and Metz were confirmed as direct Ligue 2 dropouts, the final question of the season centered on which team would finish 16th in Ligue 1—and thus face a playoff against st-Étienne. Nice, already in that position before the final matchday, failed to escape it despite a home fixture against bottom-placed Metz.
The Aiglons’ hopes of securing a draw were dashed by a lackluster performance, barely salvaged by a heroic display from goalkeeper Yéhvann Diouf. Disappointed supporters later stormed the Allianz Riviera pitch. Their fate will be decided over two legs against st-Étienne, with the first match in Saint-Étienne on May 26 and the return in Nice on May 29. The playoff comes just days after Nice’s Coupe de France final against Lens at the Stade de France on May 22.
Sinayoko shines as Auxerre and Le Havre claim victories
On Sunday morning, Nice sat 16th with 31 points, level with Auxerre (15th) and one point ahead of Le Havre (14th). Their rivals for survival, however, delivered when it mattered most. Auxerre produced a stunning upset by beating Lille 2-0, while Le Havre claimed a crucial 2-0 win at Lorient. These results ensured both teams’ Ligue 1 status, leaving Nice to face the playoff.
Christophe Pelissier’s Auxerre side pulled off a remarkable achievement against LOSC. Lassine Sinayoko, the standout performer, scored twice (32nd, 90th minutes)—his 11th and 12th goals of the Ligue 1 season—to secure the win. Meanwhile, Didier Digard’s Le Havre side did the job at the Moustoir, with Lorient’s Abdoulaye Faye scoring an own goal (33rd) and Issa Soumaré adding a second (62nd). Lorient’s Bamba Dieng missed a penalty (45th+5).