Rate it!

4 votes

Bordeaux claimed the Ligue 1 title for the first time in 10 years and simultaneously consigned Caen to relegation after a 1-0 win at the Stade Michel D'Ornano.

Ironically it was former Caen striker Yoan Gouffran that scored the winning goal with a close range header three minutes into the second half, which proved to be enough for Laurent Blanc's men.

The action began at breakneck pace virtually from the first whistle and with just five minutes on the clock Fahid Benkhalfallah went down in the area under a clumsy challenge from Souleymane Diawara.

It appeared to be a fairly straightforward penalty, as Diawara had allowed Benkhalfallah to get goal side of him and the Bordeaux defender seemed to shove his man in the back, but nothing was given by the referee.

The visitors almost took the lead less than 60 seconds later, when Gouffran broke clear and forced Vincent Plante into a decent save diving to his left.

In an all-action opening, Caen were the next to threaten when Steve Savidan got his foot to a right wing cross and flicked the ball to Bordeaux keeper Ulrich Rame's right, however the custodian did enough to prevent Benkhalfallah having a simple tap-in.

Plante saw further action with 13 minutes gone when he was called upon to make a smart save from Fernando, but Caen pressed as the half went on and restricted their title challenging rivals to a few half chances on the counter.

Bordeaux had a penalty claim of their own midway through the first half for handball, but the referee rightly waved away the Bordeaux protests, which in truth were somewhat half-hearted.

It was the visitors who began the second half with more purpose and they got their reward after 48 minutes when a free kick was taken quickly and crossed into the box from the right wing where Gouffran was lurking near the six yard line.

After burying the header Gouffan enjoyed only a muted celebration out of respect for his former club, who bravely continued to play good football and carve out chances right until the end.

The best of these by a distance fell to Sambou Yatabare, who when sent clear by sub Ismalia N'daye on 83 minutes, delayed his shot and allowed Rame to smother his shot.

That was the last opportunity for Caen, who were relegated following Saint Etienne's 4-0 victory over Valenciennes and Bordeaux could have snatched another at the death through Marouane Chamakh.

One was enough in the end though for Bordeaux to be crowned Ligue 1 champions.

Lyon, who had won the last seven titles, ended third after a goalless draw at Toulouse and will play in the Champions League qualifying round.

Toulouse, fourth, and fifth-placed Lille, who beat Nancy 3-2, will take part in the Europa League as Bordeaux's League Cup win freed a place in the former UEFA Cup.

Paris St Germain missed out on a Europa League spot on goal difference after being held to a goalless draw by Monaco.

Bafetimbi Gomis scored two and set up another as St Etienne saved their place in the top flight with a 4-0 blasting of Valenciennes.

Eight-times champions Nantes were relegated despite a 2-1 home win against AJ Auxerre, along with Caen and Le Havre.

Nantes fans threw their season tickets to the pitch in a sign of anger as their team were dropped only a year after winning promotion from Ligue 2.

Marseille had to beat Rennes and hope for Bordeaux to lose but their victory was not enough to give the Provence side their first silverware since they were last champions in 1992.

They stuck to their end of the deal, blasting past Rennes with a Mamadou Niang double, a Bakari Kone goal and an own goal from Rennes keeper Nicolas Douchez in the second half.

"We would have deserved to be champions but obviously, it is not tonight that we missed out on the title tonight," said Senegal striker Niang.

Lens, Montpellier and Boulogne-sur-Mer were promoted from Ligue 2.

Sean Calvert / Reuters