The Result Has A Second Meaning
Lille wrapped up third place in Ligue 1 and a return to the Champions League on Sunday, though the celebration came with an odd taste — a 2-0 home defeat to Auxerre on the season's final day.
The math was simple enough. Three clubs — Lille, Lyon and Rennes — entered the final round with a chance at third, but none managed a win. That was enough for Lille to finish one point clear of Lyon, who will settle for Champions League qualifying instead.
The trophy did not need much decoration; the season had already done most of the talking.
"This is not the match we wanted to play, but the main thing is that we finish third," captain Benjamin Andre said. "It's the reward for a whole season. Everybody wants to play in the Champions League."
The loss stings less when you consider what Auxerre had at stake. Mali forward Lassine Sinayoko's brace ensured his side stayed in the top flight and avoided the relegation playoff — a good day at the office for him, a quiet one for everyone in orange.
The Part Worth Keeping
Lyon never looked like joining the conversation. Already three down at halftime against Lens, Florian Thauvin added another after the break in a 4-0 defeat that ended whatever slim hopes remained. Marseille, meanwhile, beat Rennes 3-1 with goals from Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg, Amine Gouiri and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Esteban Lepaul's 21st goal of the season provided the only consolation for Rennes, who dropped to sixth on goal difference despite matching Marseille's points.
PSG's final act before the Champions League final was a 2-1 loss to Paris FC. Bradley Barcola put the visitors ahead, but Alimami Gory leveled in the 76th and completed his brace in stoppage time. PSG had already wrapped up its 14th league title on Wednesday. The real test comes May 30 in Budapest against Arsenal.
Nice survived the season by a margin as thin as the point it earned against last-place Metz, finishing 16th and earning a promotion-relegation playoff with Saint-Etienne. Strasbourg pulled off something closer to theater: down 4-1 to Monaco in the 55th, they rallied for a 5-4 win. Martial Godo and Sebastian Nanasi each scored twice in the comeback.
At the other end, Nantes' season ended in an abandoned match after fans stormed the pitch in anger at relegation to the second division. It was the final game for 74-year-old Vahid Halilhodzic, who received a guard of honor before kickoff and retires after failing to keep the eight-time champions afloat. He won the French title with Nantes as a striker in 1983 and still ranks third on the club's all-time scorers list with 93 goals.