Saint-Etienne relegated as PSG celebrate with fans
Saint-Etienne, one of Ligue 1's most storied clubs, has been relegated as Paris Saint-Germain celebrated their title with their fans on the final matchday.
Despite support from 38,000 buoyant spectators at sold-out Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne lost to Toulouse 3-2 on Saturday and could not avoid the drop.
Saint-Etienne, who dominated French soccer during the 1960s and '70s, joined last-placed Montpellier as the demoted teams. Saint-Etienne return immediately to Ligue 2
Le Havre avoided their fate by winning at Strasboug 3-2 thanks to a penalty from Abdoulaye Touré late in added time.
Touré, who completed a brace, converted the spot kick with a panenka, allowing his team to leapfrog Reims in the standings and remain in the top flight.
Reims will face Metz in the promotion-relegation playoff. Second-division side Metz edged Dunkerque to secure a spot in the two-leg playoff against Ligue 1's 16th-placed team.
In Paris, coach Luis Enrique fielded a full-strength squad as PSG celebrated their title at home against Auxerre.
PSG were caught cold by a first-half goal from Lassine Sinayoko and turned things around after the interval with efforts from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who scored twice, and captain Marquinhos, to win 3-1.
PSG won a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title with six games to spare and are hoping for their first ever treble. In addition to the Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 31, Enrique's team play Reims in the French Cup final on May 24.
With 84 points, PSG set a new record for the most points in a 34-match season. They shared the previous record with Saint-Etienne, who achieved 81 points in the 1969-70 season.
Nice won the fourth and final spot in Champions League, a ticket to the third preliminary round, by thrashing Brest 6-0.
Lille ended fifth and qualified for the Europa League group stage.
In his final match with Lyon, Alexandre Lacazette scored his 200th and 201st goals for his boyhood club. Lacazette returned to Lyon in June 2022 and will leave as his contract expires. He left the seven-time French champion in 2017 for a then-club record 60 million euros after joining at age 12.
Lacazette scored from the penalty spot and a tap-in as Lyon beat Angers 2-0 to finish sixth.
Lacazette's brilliance was a rare satisfaction for Lyon fans as the club again missed out on Champions League football.
The club's future remains unclear after it was hit in November by a decision to provisionally relegate the side to Ligue 2 following an audit of the club's finances by the French league's soccer watchdog. The DNCG decided Lyon's financial situation must improve by the end of the season.
Mason Greenwood scored twice and delivered an assist as Marseille sealed a second-place finish by beating Rennes 4-2.
Marseille finished four points ahead third-placed Monaco, who lost to Lens 4-0.
Former Manchester United forward Greenwood's 20th and 21st goals helped him finish joint top-scorer in the league with PSG's Ousmane Dembélé. Under the league rules, Dembelé will take the trophy because he scored less penalties than Greenwood.
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