Nice faces relegation playoff after failed Ligue 1 finale against Metz
The final matchday of Ligue 1 delivered dramatic twists as Nice, despite controlling the game, couldn’t secure a win against Metz (0-0) on Sunday evening. The Nicois finish 16th and now face a relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne on May 26 and 29. Meanwhile, Le Havre and Auxerre secured their top-flight status with crucial victories.
With Nantes and Metz already confirmed as relegated, the focus shifted to the team finishing 16th. Nice, occupying this position before the final day, failed to escape it despite a dour display that could have seen them lose without goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf’s heroics. Fans invaded the Allianz Riviera pitch in frustration, adding to the chaotic end to their season.
Sinayoko shines as Auxerre and Le Havre secure survival
Nice entered the final day with 31 points, tied with Auxerre (15th) and just one behind Le Havre (14th). The two rivals, playing away, delivered when it mattered most. Auxerre stunned Lille with a 2-0 victory, with Lassine Sinayoko scoring twice—his 11th and 12th goals of the season—to seal the win. At Lorient, Le Havre took all three points after Abdoulaye Faye’s own goal and Issa Soumaré’s strike, though Bamba Dieng’s missed penalty added a dramatic twist.