Bordeaux clinched their first French league championship title in 10 years after winning 1-0 at Caen on a dramatic final day of the season on Saturday.
Former Caen striker Yoan Gouffran scored in the early stages of the second half to earn Laurent Blanc’s side the title.
The result sparked scenes of wild celebration both in the stadium and at Bordeaux’s Esplanade des Quinconces, where 50,000 fans had gathered to watch the match on a big screen, while defeat condemned Caen to relegation.
Second-placed Marseille knew that only defeat for Bordeaux would allow them to snatch the title as they won 4-0 at home to Rennes.
Striker Mamadou Niang netted a brace, while Ivorian Bakari Kone scored once and also saw a long-range shot hit the post and rebound into the net off Rennes goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez.
Caen will be joined in Ligue 2 next season by Nantes, who went down despite a 2-1 victory over Auxerre, but St Etienne spared themselves from the drop by thrashing Valenciennes 4-0.
Sochaux and Le Mans joined Les Verts in preserving their top-flight status, Sochaux winning 1-0 at Grenoble and Le Mans drawing 1-1 at Lorient.
Hundreds of Nantes fans streamed out of their Stade de la Beaujoire ground in protest at their plight before kick-off, returning after 15 minutes having missed Ivan Klasnic’s opener.
Jeremy Berthod finished adroitly from close range in the opening stages of the second half to bring the visitors level before Mamadou Bagayoko struck to earn Nantes a futile victory.
St Etienne took the lead in fine fashion at home to Valenciennes when Araujo Ilan slid in to thump home a volley from Kevin Mirallas’ right-wing cross and they made sure of victory thanks to Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored twice in the second period before laying on a goal for Mirallas.
Lyon had already secured third place and a berth in the qualifying rounds of next season’s Champions League prior to their 0-0 draw at Toulouse.
Lyon center-back John Mensah was sent off making it easier for the home side to collect the point that guaranteed fourth place.
Lille will also compete in the re-branded UEFA Cup after a 3-2 victory at home to Nancy but Paris St-Germain’s dreams of European soccer melted away in a goalless draw at home to Monaco.
In the night’s other game relegated Le Havre drew 0-0 at Nice.
Gouffran spurned an early chance to settle Bordeaux’s nerves when he fired straight at Vincent Plante in the Caen goal after haring onto a through ball.
Visiting goalkeeper Ulrich Rame then clawed a near-post effort by Steve Savidan off his goal-line as Caen threatened to poop the title party, before Fernando saw a prodded attempt parried by Plante at the other end.
Gouffran scored the title-winning goal four minutes after half-time, heading home Benoit Tremoulinas’ cross.
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