Ligue 1: FC Nantes assured of relegation to Ligue 2 after defeat against Lens

Nantes will leave the elite after 14 consecutive seasons in the top-flight of French football.

Published on 08/05/2026 at 22:41

Reading time: 1min

Anything but a victory meant relegation. FC Nantes failed to secure a win against Lens, the second team in Ligue 1, on Friday, May 8th. They were defeated 1-0 and are now guaranteed direct qualification for the next Champions League. Young Mezian Mesloub (16 years old) sealed Nantes’ fate eighteen seconds after his first appearance in Ligue 1 (79th minute). With one round left in the championship and only three points available, Vahid Halilhodzic’s team trails by five points to the current playoff spot holder, AJ Auxerre.

Mezian Mesloub, son of Walid Mesloub, scores his first goal in Ligue 1 only 18 seconds after his first appearance 🇩🇿🇹🇬

The kid is sending @RCLens to the Champions League 💶#RCLFCN (1-0) pic.twitter.com/PMmNdRLsUe

This news is a small earthquake in the elite of French football, of which FC Nantes has been a part continuously since the 2013-2014 season. The eight-time French champions had made their way back to Europe by participating in the Europa League in 2022-2023 after winning the French Cup in the previous season. Like FC Metz, who have already been mathematically relegated since last week, Nantes will compete in Ligue 2 next season.

Due to a completely failed season that saw three coaches take charge: Luis Castro, Ahmed Kantari, and Vahid Halilhodzic. The revolving door policy did not work as the Canaries only managed to secure nine points in their last 16 matches. The opposite of a wake-up call.

Meanwhile, RC Lens delays Paris Saint-Germain’s title coronation. Even if they win against Brest on Sunday, Luis Enrique’s team will not be mathematically assured of the title. The Lensois will have another chance to postpone the Parisians’ triumph when they face them at Bollaert next Wednesday.