This time, it’s truly the end.
After years of flirting with relegation, FC Nantes has officially been relegated and will compete in Ligue 2 during the 2026/27 season.
Their 1-0 loss to RC Lens on Friday night definitively dashed Nantes’ hopes, as they cannot surpass Auxerre, who currently hold the relegation playoff position.
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This season has been a challenging journey for the Canaries, who started with Luis Castro at the helm. The Portuguese manager was dismissed after securing only two wins in his 15 Ligue 1 matches.
His replacement, Ahmed Kantari, fared little better, earning just six points from 10 games. Ultimately, club veteran Vahid Halilhodzic was brought in to manage the team for the remainder of the season.
Despite showing some improvement in both performance and morale under Halilhodzic, the Bosnian coach couldn’t salvage a side that faced insurmountable limitations.
Consequently, for the first time since the 2012/13 season, Nantes will find themselves back in Ligue 2. During their previous relegation, they spent four years in the second tier before returning to the top league.
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On the other hand, RC Lens has officially secured their position on the Ligue 1 podium with this victory!
Les Sang et Or are now guaranteed a spot in the Champions League next season and have narrowed the gap to just three points behind PSG, who will face Brest on Sunday night.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.