Paris (AFP)

The promoted Lens consolidated his fifth place in Europe on Sunday by dominating Lorient 4-1, the first non-relegation who still has four points ahead of Nantes, penultimate in Ligue 1 defeated 1-0 in Rennes.

For the Nantes Canaries, the 14th defeat of the season in the league, conceded in addition to the Breton rival, hurts.

Six days from the end, the team led by Antoine Kombouaré remains in the red zone.

"There is disappointment, frustration, sadness," said the Kanak coach, appointed two months ago to save the yellow and green house.

"We lacked enthusiasm, offensive going, maybe courage too," he said.

Without ideas or great ambitions, the Nantes residents turned their backs against Rennes, still in the race for European places.

But they fell in love with a dazzling Martin Terrier, author of a superb coiled shot (53rd).

The end of the championship promises to be heavy for the club of Waldemar Kita, owner hated by the ultras, who will have to fight until the end not to descend into a second division left in 2013. In a week, Nantes will receive Lyon.

- Saint-Etienne breathes -

The air, however, becomes lighter on the side of Saint-Etienne who, at home, removed the specter of relegation by slapping 4-1 a Bordeaux team in full collapse.

In a match punctuated by three penalties (two for the locals, one for Bordeaux), the Greens brought down the Girondins with in particular a hat-trick from Tunisian striker Wahbi Khazri.

Claude Puel's men settle in 13th place with nine points ahead of the current barrage, Nîmes, who brought back one point from his trip to Brest (1-1).

At the top of the table, Lens has consolidated its 5th place synonymous with a ticket for the new Europa League Conference, or even for the Europa League itself.

The promoted Artesian has three points ahead of OM, braked Saturday in Montpellier (3-3), and four more than Rennes.

Against the 17th Lorient, the Sang et Or did not tremble under the impetus of Corentin Jean, at the origin of a penalty converted by Gaël Kakuta (his 10th league goal this season), then scorer for the 2- 1.

After the break, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Simon Banza aggravated the mark.

In a meeting without much stake, Nice (9th) and Reims (12th) parted without the slightest goal.

Monaco receives the Dijon red lantern at the end of the afternoon to secure its third place, under the threat of Lyon who receives Angers in the evening.

© 2021 AFP