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Ligue 1 round-up

Image: Lyon celebrate their Ligue 1 title

Lyon wrapped up their seventh straight Ligue 1 title, while Lens were relegated.

Lyon crowned champions as Lens are relegated

Lyon wrapped up their seventh straight Ligue 1 title on Saturday as they recorded an away victory over Auxerre. A 3-1 win at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps handed Lyon the three points as Alain Perrin's side retained their title. Elsewhere, Lens were relegated as they could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to second-placed Bordeaux and fellow strugglers Paris St Germain recorded an away victory over Sochaux. Meanwhile, Marseille wrapped up third place, and the final qualifying spot for next season's UEFA Champions League, as they had the better of a seven-goal thriller with Strasbourg. Lyon wasted little time in taking the lead against Auxerre as Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the first minute and Fred (10) then added a second. Six minutes after the interval Kim Kallstrom netted a third to seal the title, while Auxerre could only find a 78th minute consolation. Lens dropped out of Ligue 1 as they were held 2-2 at the Stade Felix-Bollaert by Bordeaux, who secured second place in the table. Fernando Cavenaghi fired Bordeaux in front on 66 minutes, but Olivier Monterrubio equalised four minutes later. Substitute David Bellion (80) then thought he had won it for Bordeaux, but the lead was again to only last four minutes as Toifilou Maoulida restored parity. However, it was not enough to save Lens as they were condemned to relegation. An Amara Diane brace ensured PSG maintained their top-flight status as they recorded a 2-1 away victory against Sochaux. Diane put the visitors in front on 22 minutes, but Guiranne N'Daw equalised with 17 minutes of the game remaining. However, Diane was then the hero as he fired in PSG's winner with eight minutes left on the clock. Marseille will be in next season's Champions League as they earned a 4-3 home victory over Strasbourg. Mamadou Niang put Marseille in front on six minutes, but James Fanchone equalised in the 12th minute. Strasbourg then took the lead seven minutes later as Kevin Gameiro netted, but on 45 minutes striker Djibril Cisse equalised from the penalty spot. Three minutes later highly-rated playmaker Samir Nasri, who is now thought to have played his final game for the club before a summer transfer, gave Marseille the lead. Simon Zenke again drew Strasbourg level on 72 minutes, but with 12 minutes remaining Cisse scored the winner for Marseille. Bottom-of-the-table Metz and 10-man Le Mans also played out a seven-goal thriller at the Stade Saint Symphorien, with the former earning a 4-3 victory. Metz raced into a three-goal lead courtesy of Cedric Barbosa (4), Miralem Pjanic (13) and Babacar Gueye (33) and four minutes before the interval Le Mans' woes increased as Jean Calve was shown a straight red card. However, the visitors staged a second half comeback as Vinicius De Melo (51) and Benni Andre (55) rescued hope. But Vincent Bessat fired Metz's fourth with six minutes remaining and Ludovic Baal could only net an 86th minute consolation. Rennes recorded a 3-2 away victory to defeat Nancy at the Marcel-Picot. Francis Ntsayi put Nancy in front on seven minutes, but Stephane Etoundi (32) and Mickael Pagis (48) then handed Rennes the lead. Andre Luiz equalised for Nancy on 55 minutes, but Pagis was in the right place at the right time to hand Rennes the points three minutes later. Nice recorded a comfortable 3-1 home victory over Caen. David Hellebuyck (26) gave Nice the lead, but Julien Toudic equalised one minute before the break. However, a 59th minute Honorato Ederson penalty and an 84th minute Bakari Kone strike were enough to hand Nice the points. St Etienne hammered Monaco 4-0 at the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard. Bafetimbi Gomis gave his side a two-goal lead inside six minutes and then Geoffrey Dernis (32) and Pascal Feindouno (82) secured the victory. Toulouse defeated Valenciennes 2-1 at the Municipal Stadium. Jeremy Mathieu gave Toulouse the lead on five minutes, but Johan Audel equalised six minutes before half-time. Toulouse, though, had their winner with 15 minutes remaining as Pantxi Sirieix found the back of the net. Elsewhere, Lorient and Lille drew 1-1 at the Stade Du Moustoir as Rafik Saifi (43) opened the scoring for the home side only for Fernandes Bastos to equalise 11 minutes later.
Auxerre 1 Lyon 3
Lens 2 Bordeaux 2
Lorient 1 Lille1
Marseille 4 Strasbourg 3
Metz 4 Le Mans 3
Nancy 2 Rennes 3
Nice 3 Caen 1
Sochaux 1 PSG 2
St Etienne 4 Monaco 0
Toulouse 2 Valenciennes1

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