Caen, in great difficulty before the 38th and last day of Ligue 2, managed to save himself in extremis thanks to his victory over Clermont (2-1) this Saturday. It is Niort who finished 18th and will play the round-trip play-offs against Villefranche to try to maintain himself.
End clap. The Ligue 2 version 2020-2021 closed its doors this Saturday evening with its share of joy, relief and disillusion. Between the battle at the top of the standings and the fight for maintenance, the 38th and final day offered great suspense. Assured to climb and finish in the lead, Troyes ended up coasting by losing to Le Havre (3-2). An anecdotal setback for Laurent Batlles’ team. It will be accompanied in the elite by Clermont Foot (2nd), which will discover the elite of French football for the first time in its history. Attractive throughout the season, the Auvergnats of Pascal Gastien, however, ended the season with a defeat, without consequence for them, on Caen soil (2-1).
Caen flees, Chambly relegated
Behind, no change either in the top 5: Toulouse (3rd), hung by Dunkirk (3-3), completes the podium ahead of Grenoble (4th) and Paris FC (5th), who dominated Rodez (1-0) ) and Chambly (3-0). The play-offs will therefore be played between these three teams. At first, Paris FC will travel to Grenoble (single match on May 18). Then the winner of this confrontation will go to Toulouse (single match on May 21).
At the end of this royal joust, the winner of this final confrontation will play the play-offs for accession to Ligue 1 against the 18th in Ligue 1 in a round-trip format (May 27 and May 30). For the moment, it is FC Nantes which occupies the place of play-off, but there are still two days to go in Ligue 1. Despite a stunning success in Sochaux (3-2), Auxerre fails two points from the top 5 .
At the bottom of the table, Caen is the big winner of the day. Eighteenth at kick-off, the Normans managed to gain a place to save themselves directly. Fallers of Clermont at the end of the suspense (2-1), with the penalty for winning Benjamin Jeannot in extra time, they finished in 17th place with 41 points. Like Dunkirk (16th) and especially like Niort (18th). It is the goal difference that allows Caen to maintain its position: -13 for Dunkirk, -15 for Caen, -24 for Niort. For the Chamois, who slide from 16th to 18th place, it is obviously a huge disappointment.
Beaten 2-0 by Guingamp, they still have a chance to save their skin. They will have to emerge victorious from the play-off (first leg on May 19, return on May 21), against Villefranche Beaujolais, the 3rd in National. Swept by Paris FC, Chambly (19th) descends into the third division. Like Châteauroux (20th).
Ligue 1-Ligue 2 playoffs and play-offs
Tuesday, May 18 at 8:45 p.m .: Playoffs 1 Grenoble (4th L2) vs Paris FC (5th)
Friday May 21 at 8:45 p.m .: Playoffs 2 Toulouse vs winner of playoffs 1
Thursday May 27 at 8:45 p.m .: first leg playoff winner Ligue 2 vs 18th Ligue 1
Sunday May 30 at 6 p.m.: knock-off return 18th Ligue 1 vs Ligue 2 playoff winner
League 2-National play-offs
Wednesday May 19 at 7 p.m .: Villefranche Beaujolais vs Niort
Saturday May 22 at 8:45 p.m .: Niort vs Villefranche Beaujolais
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